SAVOY, 


LIBRARY  OF 

HENRY  M.  DUNLAP 


ILLINOIS 


jQgggOWgD  PLEASERETURN  PROMPTLY  i 

■SIONmi  'AOAVS 


THE  UHIVEHWTY 

or  auMon 

UIRAIIY 


C^S>2c\ 


,r^g| 


JiA^yJ^ 


LIBRARY 

CF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


I 


I  Hi    HAWKS  XKST.  (h:  makshai.i/s  imllah, 

KWKriK  CurSTY,   WK-r  VIIH.IMV.       \'\i,Y    IC.T. 


FIVE  YEARS 


IN 


THE  ALLEGHANIES 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 
AMEEICAN  TEACT  SOCIETY, 

150  NASSAU-STREET,  "NEW  YORK. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1863,  by  the 
American'  Tract  Socictt,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court 
of  the  Southern  District  of  the  State  ofSew  York. 


CONTEIS^TS. 

^  

^                                 CHAPTER  I 
f    The  Preparation - 5 

CHAPTER  n. 
The  milestone — The  elegant  young  man — The  col- 
■^        Her — The  rich  lady • --     15 

^  CHAPTER  nX 

The  grog-shop — The  rolling  mills — The  Universalist,      27 

■  \  CHAPTER  IV. 

43  The  new  "relagin" — The   hard  father  and  his  little 

.  Vj     daughter — The  deserted  homes — The  stolen  books,     37 

W  CHAPTER  Y. 

^  Book  preachers  installed — ' '  Caught  -with  guile '' — The 

^      clenched  fist — Keyiew - --    4:d 

\  CHAPTER  ^T 

-VjGrovemor  of  "West  Virginia— Sui-prising  desolations — 
v^T^T,^  1^/1^,,^     r^^.r.  A;....r...     "  Blazinor  the  trees  "-- -     57 


^ 


CHAPTER  XTL. 
The  hunter  seeking  books  for  a  Sunday-school — The 
first  sermon — Clock  pedlars 68 

q^  CHAPTER  XJIl. 

•^The    "Ironside"   preacher   and  distiller — "Wife   and 
fV     granddaughter--- 75 

CHAPTER  IX. 

r^A  church  dignitary — "Have  you  let  Washington  into 
.      hearen?" - - 81 

^  CHAPTER  X. 

The   pistol — The   surveyor's   son — A  pubHc-house — 
^j,^^    ' '  You  have  prayed  plenty  " — The  pocket-Bible 89 

,^  104/897 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XL 

The  summit  of  Cheat  monutum — The  "fellow  that 
wanted  to  colport" — The  sheriffs  warrant — "Wish- 
ing to  be  a  iraet  agent 97 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

The  wickedest  man  in  the  county — The  bully — The 
shooting  match — A  gang  of  desperadoes Ill 

CHAPTER  Xm. 
A  night  on  guard— Old  Kandal  Lucas 119 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

' '  No  church,  no  jweacher,  no  Sunday-school,  no  day- 
school  " — A  young  lady's  success 128 

CHAPTER  XY. 

"Xo  such  place  as  hell" — The  busj-  lawyer — A  Trini- 
ty— The  great  work  in  L ,  and  in  U 137 

CHAPTER  XA1. 
A  Pentecostal  season — Ser^^ce  in  a  graveyard — A  Se- 
ceder  church - 151 

CHAPTER  XVn. 

The  Spirit's  blessing  at  C ,  and  near  Marshall's 

Pillar,  and  at  L B Col.  S 's  household,  163 

CH.APTER  XYIU. 

Grieving  the  Sj^irit — Striking  elTocts  of  the  Anxious 
Inquirer - 176 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Work  of  grace  at  L The  German  professor— 

The  wealthy  young  lady — "Don't  be  oflfended" — 

A  distinguished  ciWlian 188 

The  Conclusion --- -        • 201 


FIVE  YEARS 


IN 


THE  ALLEGHANIES. 


CHAPTER  I. 


"  It  is  uot  in  man  that  walketh  to  direct  his 
steps."  In  all  my  connection  with  the  scenes 
here  truthfiillj  described,  as  in  the  training 
and  discipline  of  earher  years  through  which 
I  was  brought  into  them,  I  have  been  led  in  a 
luay  that  I  kneiu  not. 

I  was  born  on  the  border  of  Western  Penn- 
sylvania  and  Yii'ginia,  within  the  wilds  of  the 
vast  range  of  the  Alleghanies,  where  the  howl 
of  the  wolf,  the  scream  of  the  panther,  and 
the  Indian's  tomahawk  were  my  dread.  In 
infancy  my  father  died,  and  a  few  years  later 
my  pious  mother.     But  God  raised  up  a  fos- 


6  FIVE   YEARS 

ter-motlier,  and  in  her  family  an  intelligent 
Scotch  female  teacher,  who  made  me  her 
special  charge  during  my  first  year  at  school. 
Here,  in  connection  with  faithful  preaching 
from  a  tent  in  the  woods  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
instruction  in  the  Ibg-cabin  day-schools,  I  re- 
ceived those  rudiments  of  education,  and  was 
indoctrinated  in  that  sound  system  of  faith 
and  morals  from  which  "old  Scotia's  grandeur 
springs." 

Conscious  of  my  ruin  by  sin  and  need  of 
the  "new  birth,"  as  set  forth  in  old  standard 
works  of  Flavel  and  Boston  which  I  read,  for 
three  years  from  ten  to  thii-teen,  I  was  often 
deeply  impressed  as  to  the  state  of  my  soul. 
I  attended  constantly  on  preaching  and  the 
monthly  examinations,  committed  to  mem- 
ory catechisms  and  scriptures,  and  wrestled 
with  God  in  prayer  that  I  might  be  truly  con- 
verted and  become  a  minister  of  the  gospel ; 
and  sometimes  I  indulged  a  trembling  hope 
in  Christ. 

But  among  the  snares  and  flatteries  of  un- 
godly companions,  my  alarm  and  faint  hopes 
of  salvation  gi'adually  subsided.  I  was  at 
length  led  to  show  my  manJiood  by  tobacco- 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  7 

cheTNTQg,  card-plajing,  and  eyen  profanity. 
Next  I  was  enticed  to  read  works  on  Univer- 
salism,  and  for  four  years  sought  to  stifle  con- 
science by  arguments  to  prove  tliat  all  will  be 
saved.  Yet  a  still  small  voice  was  wkLspering, 
"  The  soul  that  sinneth  it  shall  die ;"  and 
though  jovial  in  company,  when  alone  heU 
would  seem  to  flash  up  before  me  in  aU  its 
horrors.  Two  great  powers  were  striving  in 
my  heart :  one  to  lead  me  into  deeper  sin ; 
the  other  crying,  "  Turn  ye,  turn  ye  ;  for  why 
win  ye  die?"  At  seventeen  I  went  ^^ith  an 
ungodly  young  man  into  the  then  ^oLderness 
of  Central  Ohio,  where  for  haK  a  year  I 'heard 
no  sermon,  hunted  on  the  Sabbath,  threw  ofi 
restraints,  and  as  it  were  dared  the  ven- 
geance of  God.  Oh  how  astonishing  the  mer- 
cy of  God,  to  continue  to  strive  with  such  a 
rebel ! 

When  I  arrived  at  eighteen,  I  spent  two  or 
three  nights  in  a  week  at  the  card-table,  to 
"kiU  time"  and  drown  the  w^hispers  of  the 
Spirit.  I  thought  of  enhsting  in  the  army,  and 
then  resolved  to  go  to  sea  :  but  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  a  young  woman  just  then  en- 
gaged my  affections;  thoughts  of  the  army 


8  FIVE    YEARS 

and  tlie  sea  were  dislodged,  and  in  a  few 
months  we  were  mamed,  depending  on  our 
personal  exertions  for  the  means  of  sujDport. 

We  rented  a  piece  of  land,  and  entered  upon 
the  scenes  and  responsibilities  of  real  life. 
After  six  months,  I  was  seized  with  acute  in- 
flammatory rheumatism,  and  the  A^erdict  of 
the  physician  was,  that  the  disease  was  incur- 
able, and  I  must  die.  Every  feature  was  dis- 
torted with  agony ;  and  yet  the  agony  of  sord 
at  the  thought  of  being  dragged  into  the  pres- 
ence of  God  vrith.  all  my  sins  unpardoned  was 
unsjDeakably  more  terrible.  I  saw  that  I  had 
shut  my  heart  against  the  calls  of  God's  word 
and  Spirit  a  thousand  times,  and  that  I  de- 
served the  deepest  hell.  I  tried  to  pray,  but 
there  seemed  to  be  no  God  to  hear,  no  Sav- 
iour to  intercede,  no  Spirit  to  comfort  my  lost 
and  TVTetched  soul. 

As  I  was  recovering,  "  The  Afflicted  Man's 
Companion,"  received  from  a  fiiend,  was 
gi-eatly  blessed  to  me,  and  I  resolved  -by 
God's  help  to  live  the  life  and  die  the  death 
of 'the  righteous.  The  struggle  now  began  in 
earnest.  Such  was  my  agony  of  soul,  that  I 
often  went  to  the  woods  and  rolled  on  the 


I^'   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  9 

ground  for  hours.  Most  of  those  around  me, 
for  miles  in  every  direction,  were  HAing  in  neg- 
lect of  God ;  intemperance  fearfully  prevailed ; 
there  was  not  one  religious  fiiend  to  whom  I 
could  reveal  the  feehngs  of  my  heart.  I  tried 
to  surrender  myseK  to  Christ,  but  in  vain.  A 
voice  seemed  to  follow  me  continually,  "  He 
that  is  ashamed  of  me  and  of  my  words,  of  him 
will  I  be  ashamed  before  my  Father  and  his 
holy  angels."  I  felt  that  a  'public  acknow- 
ledgment of  Christ  and  his  cause  was  the  only 
way  of  rehef ;  but  I  shrunk  from  the  duty, 
wishing  to  be  a  secret  Chi'istian,  and  go  to 
the  Sa^dour,  like  Nicodemus,  by  night.  This 
distress  continued  for  some  months. 

At  length  I  was  enabled  to  ask  a  blessing 
at  my  table,  which  seemed  a  hard  task  before 
my  then  irrehgious  wife  ;  and  after  this  it  was 
a  struggle  of  six  months  before  I  could  sum- 
mon courage  to  commence  family  prayer, 
even  on  a  Sabbath  evening.  This  duty  was 
then  performed,  and  peace  of  mind  followed. 
After  a  few  months  I  made  known  the  state 
of  my  mind  to  the  officers  of  a  church  some 
miles  distant,  and  was  admitted,  though  with 
many  sore  misgivings  and  fears  that  I  had 


10  FIVE    YEARS 

no  right  to  the  Lord's  supper,  and  was  self- 
deceived. 

Grod  graciously  removed  these  doubts,  and 
I  felt  the  claims  of  Christ  to  do  something 
for  others.  I  first  engaged  in  loaning  such 
good  books  as  I  could  get,  especially  The  Af- 
flicted Man's  Companion,  Doddiidge's  Pdse 
and  Progress,  and  Pike's  Persuasives  to  Ear- 
Iv  Pietv :  feelins^  assui'ed  that  no  one  could 
praverfolly  read  either  of  these  books  -without 
being  converted. 

When  I  was  in  my  twenty-third  yeai',  a 
devoted  CTnistian  settled  in  a  very  wicked 
community  about  five  miles  from  me,  where 
he  started  a  Sabbath-school.  I  went  to  see 
it,  and  was  greatly  pleased  with  it.     At  the 

close,  I  was  introduced  to  Mr.  P ;  and  to 

his  influence,  under  God,  more  than  to  that 
of  any  other  individual,  is  to  be  traced  all  I 
have  been  enabled  to  do  for  the  salvation  of 
souls.  He  told  me  aU  about  the  management 
of  a  Sabbath-school,  and  how  to  get  books 
from  the  American  Sunday-school  Union, 
which  had  just  begun  its  heaven-bom  work 
in  our  country.  I  immediately  set  to  work, 
raised  five  dollars,  procured  ten  dollars'  worth 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  11 

of  books,  and  opened  a  Sabbatli-scliool  in 
my  own  bouse.  The  room  soon  became  too 
small ;  bnt  God  put  it  into  the  heart  of  an  irre- 
ligious neighbor  to  offer  a  larger  room,  where 
the  school  was  continued  for  a  year,  and 
where  I  also  held  a  weekly  meeting,  usually 
reading  one  of  Burder's  Yillage  Sermons. 
More  room  soon  became  necessary,  and  a 
large  school-house  was  built ;  and  there,  for 
twelve  long  years,  the  Sabbath-school  and 
rehgious  meetings  were  kept  up,  imtil  nearly 
all  the  youth  and  most  of  the  adult  popula- 
tion in  the  neighborhood  were  brought  into 
the  church. 

This  Sabbath-school  and  that  of  jNIi'.  P 


were  the  means  God  used  to  build  up  a  good 
congi'egation  in  one  of  the  most  ^svicked  and 
hopeless  communities. 

With  these  results  before  me,  as  soon  as  I 
heard  of  Colportage  my  heart  beat  with  joy 
at  the  thought  that  the  poor  would  soon  have 
the  gospel  preached  to  them,  and  that  thou- 
sands of  children,  untaught  at  home,  would 
be  reached  by  soul-saving  truth  adapted  to 
theu'  opening  minds. 

But  the  question  came  into  my  mind  at 


12  FIVE    YEARS 

once,  "  Who  -will  go  into  these  ignorant  com- 
munities, and  deny  themselves  the  comforts 
of  home,  to  do  this  work  ?"  little  thinking  that 
God,  by  fifteen  years  training,  had  selected 
me  for  that  very  work  in  the  Alleghanies. 

An  incident  that  occurred  some  years  pre- 
vious made  a  deep  impression  on  my  mind. 
The  ecclesiastical  body  with  which  I  was  con- 
nected had  requested  the  ofiicers  of  vacant 
churches  to  visit  all  the  famiHes  in  those 
churches,  and  talk  and  pray  with  them.  I 
shrunk  from  the  task;   but  encouraged  by 

Mr.  P ,  I  entered  on  it  with  fear  and 

trembhng.  By  the  time  the  first  visit  was 
paid  I  felt  as  if  I  should  like  to  spend  my 
days  in  such  a  work.  Late  in  the  evening  of 
my  first  day  I  stoj)ped  at  a  house  where  the 
man  and  his  wife  were  members  of  our  church. 
A  young  man  was  present  who  was  to  be  mar- 
ried in  a  few  days.  I  had  some  acquaintance 
with  him,  and  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  felt 
any  concern  about  his  soul.  He  said,  "A 
little  sometimes,  but  not  much."  I  urged 
him  to  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his 
righteousness,  and  said  to  him,  "For  aught 
you  know,  before  another  morning  you  may 


IN    THE    ALLEGHAXIES.  13 

be  dead,  or  on  a  sick-bed  from  wliicli  you 
may  neyer  rise."  At  midnight  that  night  he 
woke  np  sick.  In  a  day  or  two  I  was  sent  for. 
He  told  me  the  moment  he  woke  sick  he 
thought  of  what  I  said,  and  felt  that  he  should 
never  get  well.  He  lingered  three  months; 
but  more  than  a  month  before  he  died  he 
professed  his  faith  in  Christ.  From  that  time 
till  he  died,  he  daily  urged  his  ungodly,  in- 
temperate parents  to  repent  and  meet  him  in 
heaven.  The  father  soon  became  much  dis- 
tressed about  his  soul;  and  a  year  after,  he 
died  a  most  triumj^hant  death,  committing 
his  children  to  my  care  for  religious  instruc- 
tion. Within  a  few  years  the  mother  and 
most  of  the  childi-en  were  united  with  God's 
people.  All  attributed  their  salvation  to  the 
exhortations  of  that  son  and  those  of  us  who 
attended  him  and  his  father.  This  encour- 
aged me  to  try  to  do  more. 

On  the  morning  of  October  20,  1844,  I 
rose  in  peace,  with  my  happy  little  family 
around  me ;  but  a  holy  Providence  ordered 
that  in  twelve  hoiu*s  my  dear  wife  was  to  be. 
in  the  cold  embrace  of  death,  and  that  her" 
death  was  to  be  the  first  of  a  chain  of  provi- 


14  FIVE    YEARS 

dences  to  lead  me  "  out  into  the  liighwajs  and 
hedges." 

The  next  Sabbath  morning  our  pulpit  was 

occupied  by  Eev.  Mr.  W ,  who  presented 

the  moral  and  rehgious  wants  of  our  country, 
and  tenderly  appealed  for  laborers.  At*  the 
close  of  the  service  I  was  introduced  to  him, 
and  he  accompanied  me  to  the  new-made 
gi'ave  of  my  beloved  companion.  The  band 
that  had  bound  me  to  my  home  was  loosed. 
On  Monday  morning  the  preacher  called  on 
me  again  ;  prehminaries  were  an'anged  ;  and 
I  was  commissioned  as  colporteur  for  West- 
ern Yirginia,  consenting  fii'st  to  labor  a  short 
time  among  the  colliers  in  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania. 


IN   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  15 


CHAPTEE  II. 

I  LEFT  home  for  the  field  of  labor  assigned 
me  on  the  first  day  of  November,  1844. 

On  my  way  on  horseback  I  came  alongside 
of  a  yonng  gentleman  of  very  fine  appear- 
ance. We  immediately  entered  into  conver- 
sation about  the  beautiful  farms  and  fine  im- 
provements we  j)assed. 

When  we  had  rode  some  distance,  I  ob- 
served a  mile-stone,  which  reminded  me  of  a 
promise  made  some  years  before,  that  I  would 
never  travel  a  mile  or  spend  an  hoiu'  alone 
with  any  person  mthout  talking  on  the  sub- 
ject of  "religion.  I  immediately  set  about  to 
find  something  to  make  an  introduction  out 
of.  The  first  thing  that  caught  my  eye  was 
a  very  tall  hickory  pole,  raised  by  one  of  the 
political  parties  of  the  time,  and  said  I  ffeared 
the  pohtical  excitement  was  very  seriously 
affecting  the  interests  of  the  church. 

The  evasive  reply  of  the  elegant  young  man 
led  me  to  suppose  he  was  a  gay,  thoughtless 


IG  FIVE    YEAKS 

young  lawyer  or  plijsician,  as  I  had  discov- 
ered that  he  was  an  educated  man. 

I  then  obser^'ed  to  him  that  as  we  were 
pro^ddentiallj  throT\*n  together,  and  I  had 
made  a  promise  not  to  travel  a  ^mile  or  spend 
an  hour  T\ith  any  one  %\'ithont  speaking  on 
the  subject  of  religion,  I  ho2:)ed  he  had  no 
objections  to  such  conversation. 

He  said,  "  It  is  no  doubt  an  important  sub- 
ject," but  said  it  in  such  a  way  that  I  still 
thought  he  was  an  ii'religious  man. 

I  then  observed  that  I  felt  a  deep  interest 
in  young  men,  especially  as  the  destinies  of 
the  chui-ch  and  nation  would  soon  be  in  theii* 
hands.  That  the  only  safeguard  of  either 
was  real  piety.  I  then  repeated  the  text, 
"  Excej)t  a  man  be  born  again  he  cannot  see 
the  kingdom  of  God."  And  after  preaching 
him  a  sermon  from  it  near  a  mile  long,  he 
observed, 

"  Well,  sir,  that  is  very  good  theology." 

The  manner  in  which  it  was  said  led  me 
to  reply,  "Perhaps  T  have  run  against  a 
preacher." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  he,  "  I  am  a  new  beginner 
at  it,  and  you  have  given  me  one  of  the  best 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  17 

lessons  that  I  have  ever  learned.  I  thank 
you  for  it;  it  needs  no  apology,  and  I  hope 
God  Tvill  give  me  grace  always  to  do  like- 
wise." 

Our  joui'ney  as  we  continued  it  to  Pitts- 
burg was  j^leasant  and  profitable. 

In  the  evening  I  reached  the  hospitable 

home  of  the  Eev.  Mr.  J in  the  tillage  of 

T ,  near  to  the  city.  It  had  been  ar- 
ranged for  his  house  to  be  my  headquarters, 
and  I  shall  never  forget  the  nights  I  spent 
with  him  and  his  devoted  companion.  I 
thought  him  as  nigh  Christian  perfection  as 
man  is  ever  raised  in  this  world.  Had  it  not 
been  for  their  wise  Chi'istian  counsel  and  ear- 
nest prayers,  my  faith  and  courage  would  have 
yielded  when  I  came  to  look  on  my  field  of  la- 
bor. My  new  work,  to  which  everybody  was  a 
stranger,  and  to  be  done  among  strangers  in 
the  bustle  of  business  and  worldly  excite- 
ments, seemed  to  be  too  formidable  an  tm- 
dertaking.  All  nations  seemed  to  be  rej^re- 
sented;  scores  intoxicated,  and  blaspheming 
God's  holy  name.  And  what  added  to  the 
difficulty  was,  that  my  books  did  not  come 
to  hand  for  three  da^^s,  leaving  me  that  time 

Pive  Years.  2 


18  FIVE    YEARS 

to  magnify  molehills  into  mountains  of  diffi- 
culty. 

But  tliis  delay  was  the  most  important  part 
of  my  training.  Those  were  days  of  most 
earnest  searchings  of  heart,  while  such  pas- 
sages of  Scripture  as,  "  He  that  is  ashamed  of 
me  and  my  words,  of  him  will  I  be  ashamed 
before  my  Father  and  his  holy  angels,"  were 
constantly  ringing  in  my  ears. 

On  the  evening  of  the  thu'd  day  the  box  of 
books  came.  I  had  engaged  a  class-leader  in 
the  Methodist  church  to  go  with  me  the  first 
day ;  but  the  sight  of  the  box  made  me  ti'em- 
ble,  and  so  gTeat  was  the  dread  of  beginning 
the  work  that  evening,  that  I  resolved  that  if 
God  did  not  give  me  strength  by  the  next 
morning,  I  would  start  home  and  give  it  up. 
The  night  was  spent  without  sleep.  I  can 
truly  say  I  was  in  an  agony  till  foiu*  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  Then  in  a  moment  of  time 
all  my  fears  were  gone,  and  I  longed  for  the 
morning  to  come  that  I  mightrbegin  my  work. 

By  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  called  on 

Mr.  S who  was  to  accompany  me,  with 

my  basket  filled  with  good  books  and  tracts. 

In  a  few  minutes  we  entered  the  fii'st  house. 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  19 

They  were  Germans;  very  irreligious.  We 
talked  and  prayed  with  them,  and  sold  some 
books.  They  seemed  pleased  vrith  the  visit, 
and  thanked  ns  for  it. 

The  next  house  we  entered  bore  the  brand 
of  intemperance.  The  husband  was  sitting 
by  the  fii'e  with  a  sore  hand  and  red  eyes. 
We  preached  to  him  "  righteousness,  temper- 
ance, and  a  judgment  to  come,"  till  he  trem- 
bled and  wept  like  a  child.  He  promised  to 
drink  no  more,  joined  a  temperance  society 
that  night,  became  a  chm-ch-going  man,  pro- 
vided for  his  family,  and  as  far  as  I  know 
has  turned  out  well. 

During  that  day  we  visited  twenty-seven' 
famihes,  talked  and  prayed  T\dth  all  of  them, 
and  distributed  near  twenty  dollars'  worth  of 
books.  Many  shed  tears  while  we  talked 
with  them  of  Christ  and  salvation,  and  prom- 
ised to  attend  to  the  "  one  thing  needful." 

Mr.  S ,  my  fellow-laborer,  was  so  stiiTed 

in  soul  with  the  day's  work,  that  he  c.aid  he 
must  let  his  business  stand  and  go  the  next 
day. 

The  next  morning  we  started,  full  of  zeal 
and  hope.     We  met  with  many  of  the  most 


20  FIVE    YEARS 

wicked  and  degraded  people  that  I  had  ever 

seen.  Some  listened  to  us  with  attention, 
while  others  treated  iis  "s\-ith  contempt.  Late 
in  the  eTening,  while  we  were  visiting  a  row 
of  board  shanties,  occupied  by  coal  diggers, 
I  was  told  not  to  venture  into  one  of  the  shan- 
ties ;  that  the  man  was  almost  a  giant  in  size 
and  strength,  and  a  very  dangerous  man ;  that 
he  was  a  teiTor  to  the  neighborhood,  and  had 
beaten  his  wife  yerj  badly  the  day  before.  I 
rephed  there  was  the  more  need  to  see  him, 
and  I  wovdd  go  in.  My  friend  would  not 
even  come  to  the  door  of  the  shanty,  for  fear 
of  him. 

The  shanty  was  sixteen  feet  square,  no 
floor  but  the  eai-th;  neither  chau*,  table,  nor 
bed  except  a  bundle  of  straw  in  one  corner. 
He  was  seated  on  a  large  block  of  coal  at  one 
side  of  the  fire,  and  his  wife  on  another  block 
at  the  other  side,  while  the  children  were 
hing  on  the  gi'omid  playing  between  them. 
The  woman's  face  bore  testimony  of  the  beat- 
ing she  had  gotten  the  day  before. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  fiendish-looking 
men  I  ever  saw.  He  was  of  enormous  size,  was 
clothed  with  rags,  and  did  not  appear  as  if  he 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  21 

had  been  washed  for  months.  He  was  as 
black  as  coal-dust  conld  make  him.  I  must 
confess  it  reqiiii'ed  all  the  courage  I  could 
summon  to  speak  to  him. 

I  approached  him,  and  extended  my  hand, 
and  said  to  him,  "  I  have  come  to  supply  you 
'svith  some  good  books  to  comfort  you  and 
point  you  to  heaven.  Have  you  a  Bible?" 
"Xo,"  said  he.  "Can  you  read?"  "Yes,  a 
little."  "Do  you  loye' Jesus  Christ?"  "I 
fear  not,  su\"  I  then  urged  him  by  every 
thing  sacred  to  attend  to  his  soul's  salvation 
without  delay;  that  death,  judgment,  and 
eternity  were  hastening  on,  and  pictured  to 
him  as  well  as  I  could  the  awful  consequences 
of  dying. in  his  sins.  The  tears  ran  down  his 
blackened  cheeks  till  the  coal-dust  was  wash- 
ed away  below  his  eyes.  I  gave  him  a  book, 
and  prayed  with  him.  He  begged  me  to  call 
again,  and  said,  "  You  are  the  first  man  that 
ever  spoke  to  me  about  my  soul." 

During  this  day  we  ^dsited  twenty-two  fami- 
lies, and  had  rehgious  conversation  and  prayer 

with  each  of  them.     Mr.  S had  become 

so  deeply  interested,  that  he  said  he  must  go 
another  day. 


22  FIVE    YEARS 

The  next  day  we  concluded  to  visit  a  coal 
digger's  boarding-liouse,  said  to  be  the  wick- 
edest den  that  was  to  be  found  in  the  whole 
district.  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  its 
character.  We  entered  late  in  the  evening, 
as  this  was  the  only  time  we  could  find  the 
men  in.  The  house  was  kept  by  an  old, 
woman  and  her  sons,  who  worked  in  the 
mines  and  were  notorious  for  then-  daring 
profanity. 

When  we  entered  the  house  several  men 
were  playing  cards,  others  were  lying  on 
benches  about  the  room  in  various  stages  of 
intoxication.  My  colaborer  was  a  small,  timid 
man,  and  seemed  somewhat  alarmed. 

I  introduced  our  eiTand  by  proposing  to 
sell  them  some  good  books,  which  they  de- 
chned  even  to  look  at.  I  then  commenced  a 
general  exhortation,  which  had  no  effect  more 
than  poui-ing  water  on  a  rock.  I  then  called 
on  my  fi'iend  to  pray,  as  it  was  his  turn,  and 
we  had  agreed  to  lead  in  tiu*ns.  This  he  did 
with  great  fervor,  and  was  responded  to  by 
the  men  with  vulgar  songs,  and  such  other 
beha^^or  as  I  have  never  seen  before  or 
siuce. 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  ,  23 

At  the  close  of  Lis  prayer  I  turned  to  the 
old  woman  and  told  her  I  was  astonished  at 
the  mercy  of  God  that  permitted  snch  a  fam- 
ily to  live,  and  portrayed  the  awful  conse- 
quences of  her  meeting  her  household  in  hell, 
I  drew  every  alarming  picture  I  could  sum- 
mon irom.  the  Bible  or  the  resources  of  my 
own  mind.  After  some  time  the  old  woman 
began  to  weep,  and  she  promised  to  attend 
the  mission  chapel  the  next  Sabbath.  After 
supplying  them  with  a  copy  of  Baxter's  Call, 
and  a  number  of  suitable  tracts,  we  left  them. 

The  next  Sabbath  the  old  woman  was  at 
the  chapel.  A  series  of  reUgious  meetings 
began  that  day,  and  before  its  close,  as  my 
friend  informed  me,  who  was  a  worshipper 
there,  the  old  woman  and  one  of  her  sons 
professed  rehgion. 

One  day  we  entered  a  room  where  a  man 
was  lying  sick.  We  introduced  the  subject 
of  religion  to  him.  He  ground  his  teeth  with 
rage,  and  swore  he  did  not  want  to  hear  any 
thing  on  that  subject.  I  then  began  to  in- 
quire about  his  complaints,  and  to  prescribe 
some  simple  remedies,  and  he  soon  became 
calm.     After  some  time  I  remarked  that  af- 


24  .FIVE    YEARS 

flictions  did  not  come  by  cliance,  neither  did 
trouble  spring  out  of  the  gi'ound,  but  they 
■were  all  sent  of  God  for  some  wise  purpose. 
"  Do  you  thmk  so  ?"  said  he.  "  Yes,"  said  I, 
"  and  for  our  good."  He  then  Hstened  atten- 
tively, and  soon  shed  tears.  Though  he  was 
very  poor,  he  bought  some  books.  I  prayed 
with  him,  and  left  him,  but  not  without  many 
thanks  and  entreaties  to  come  and  see  him 
as  often  as  I  could. 

This  closed  the  work  of  three  days,  in 
which  time  we  had  visited  eighty-five  fami- 
lies. 

These  three  days  were  the  most  interesting 
days  that  I  had  ever  spent.  By  the  next 
morning  I  found  my  voice  almost  gone,  and 
all  my  limbs  trembHng.  The  excitement  of 
the  work  and  intensity  of  feehng  had  pros- 
trated me  before  I  was  aware  of  it. 

After  a  day  or  two  of  rest  I  resumed  my 
labors  for  three  weeks,  when  I  went  home  a 
few  days. 

I  then  returned  to  the  same  place,  and 
spent  a  month  in  ^'isiting  new  famihes  and 
revisiting  old  ones;  and  I  shall  never  forget 
the  cordial  shake  of  the  hand  that  I  got  al- 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  25 

most  every  day,  wlien  I  would  meet  some  one 
in  the  lionse  or  on  tlie  street  whom  I  had ' 
before  conversed  with  and  supphed  with  a 
book  or  tract.  Special  services  had  been 
held  in  several  churches,  and  quite  a  number 
had  professed  rehgiou.  One  minister  told  me 
he  had  taken  into  his  church  forty,  many  of 
whom  dated  theii*  first  rehgious  impressions 
to  reading  the  books  and  tracts  I  had  sold  or 
given  them,  others  referred  to  the  visits  as 
the  means  of  their  awakening. 

There  was  one  thing  in  the  work  which 
strack  me  with  great  force — the  effect  on 
Christian  people.  I  tried  as  far  as  possible 
to  get  some  good  man  to  go  ^ith  me  in  my 
visits.  It  was  a  great  help  to  me  and  added 
to  my  success,  and  at  the  same  time  it  stirred 
up  many  to  work  for  Christ  that  had  never 
done  any  thing  before. 

One  instance  I  will  name  of  a  Miss  L , 

though  she  had  been  a  worker.  She  was  a 
lady  of  large  wealth,  and  had  a  number  of 
poor  tenants  h\dng  on  her  property.  She 
heard  of  my  work,  and  came  to  see  me.  At 
her  request  I  went  to  visit  her  "parish,"  as 
she  called  it.     I  went  at  the  set  time,  and 


^. 


26  FIVE    YEARS 

slie  was  ready  to  go  with  me,  basket  in  liand. 
During  the  day  we  visited  thirty  families,  and 
talked  and  prayed  in  every  house.  When  my 
strength  failed  she  took  it  up,  and  such  en- 
treaties to  sinners  I  have  seldom  heard,  and 
such  prayers  are  seldom  offered.  During 
that  day  I  found  eleven  persons  that  attrib- 
uted their  conversion  to  her  efforts  with  books 
and  tracts.  She  said  she  was  a  colporteur 
before,  but  did  not  know  it  till  that  day. 
Keader,  go  and  do  likewise. 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  27 


CHAPTEK   III. 

I  NOW  add  a  number  of  facts  and  incidents 
tliat  occurred  diuing  these  two  months  of 
labor. 

There  was  a  Mr.  G- ,  a  coal-digger,  of 

desperate  character,  that  I  had  been  warned 
not  to  visit.  I  was  told  that  he  was  such  an 
abandoned  character  that  lie  was  hopeless; 
that  he  spent  the  most  of  every  night  in  a 
miserable  doggery,  drinking  and  fighting.  I 
had  passed  his  house  every  day  for  some 
time,  but  did  not  feel  satisfied  Tvdth  myself 
for  neglecting  it. 

At  last  I  felt  constrained  to  call  one  even- 
ing; but  he  had  not  returned  fi'om  his  work. 
I  had  a  long,  earnest  talk  with  his  wife,  who 
seemed  very  careless  and  wicked.  All  I  could 
say  made  no  impression  on  her.  I  gave  her 
a  copy  of  Baxter's  Call,  with  the  earnest  re- 
quest that  she  and  her  husband  would  read 
it.  "WTiat  followed  I  will  relate  as  near  as  I 
can  in  his  own  words  in  a  prayer-meeting  in 
his  own  house  about  two  weeks  after. 


28  FIVE    YEARS 

"  AMiile  eating  my  supper,  my  "vrife  told  me 
some  man  had  been  here  and  left  a  book, 
which  he  was  very  desirous  she  and  I  should 
read.  I  got  the  book  to  look  at  it,  and  read 
a  few  pages  T\'ithout  much  interest ;  but  as  I 
was  very  tired,  I  concluded  not  to  go  to  the 
grog-shop  that  night.  In  the  morning,  which 
was  Sunday  morning,  I  felt  incUned  to  go  and 
get  my  bitters ;  but  seeing  the  book,  I  conclud- 
ed to  read  till  breakfast,  and  then  go.  By  the 
time  breakfast  was  ready  I  felt  pretty  serious, 
and  asked  my  wife  if  she  would  not  like  to  go  to 
church — a  place  we  had  not  been  in  for  eight 
years.  She  said  she  had  no  objections.  I 
read  till  it  was  time  to  go,  and  began  i:o  feel 
somewhat  anxious  about  my  soul.  I  listened 
to  the  preaching  with  intense  interest.  I  read 
the  book  nearly  through  that  evening,  went 
back  to  the  church  that  night,  and  when  those 
who  desired  to  have  an  interest  in  Christ  were 
called  for,  I  came  ^forward.  A  week  after,  I 
found  peace." 

He  then  added,  "K  it  had  not  been  for 
that  book,  I  think  myself  and  Tvife  would 
have  been  in  hell  to-night.  That  gim  was 
loaded,"  pointing  to  an  old  gun  in  the  corner. 


IN    THE    ALLEGHAXIES.  29 

"with  a  yiesv  of  killing  myself  and  wife  near  a 
montli  ago,  and  if  God  had  not  saved  me,  it 
would  likely  have  been  done  before  this  time. 
I  was  a  miserable  man;  life  was  a  burden; 
but  now  I  am  happy." 

This  naiTative  brought  tears  to  all  our  eyes, 
and  joy  to  our  hearts. 

I  visited  some  of  the  gTOg-shops  around 
the  village  every  day  to  supply  their  cusfom- 
ers  -uith  temperance  tracts.  In  the  village 
j^roper,  no  Hquor  could  be  sold,  as  in  all  the 
deeds  for  lots  there  was  a  temperance  clause 
that  forfeited  the  property  if  Hquor  was  sold; 
but  all  round  the  village  the  grog  was  abun- 
dant, and  customers  plenty. 

Passing  one  of  these  drinking  places  one 
day  I  saw  several  customers  in,  and  entered 
the  bar-room  ^dtli  my  tracts.  The  liquor- 
sellers  had  got  to  know  me,  and  often  looked 
daggers  at  me.  A  good-looking  man,  well 
dressed,  and  about  liaK  drunk,  was  approach- 
ing the  counter  to  get  a  six-cent  drink.  Said 
I,  "My  fL-iend,  I  can  give  you  something 
for  six  cents  that  vdR  do  you  much  more 
good,  and  no  harm."  He  asked  me  what  it 
was,  when  I  presented  to  him  Baxter's  Call. 


30  FIVE    YEARS 

I  told  him  the  Hqiior  might  kill  him,  and  if 
he  would  read  that  book  with  prayerful  at- 
tention, it  might  save  his  soul.  He  said  he 
would  buy  the  book  if  he  had  the  money,  but 
that  he  had  only  six  cents  to  pay  for  that 
glass  of  hquor,  which  by  this  time  was  stand- 
ing on  the  counter. 

We  both  came  up  to  the  counter,  when  I 
laicTthe  book  beside  the  glass,  saying,  "  Here 
is  life  or  death  for  six  cents."  The  gi'og-sel- 
ler  said  I  had  no  business  to  come  there  an- 
noying his  customers,  and  injuring  his  busi- 
ness. I  urged  the  man  at 'the  risk  of  losing 
his  soul  to  buy  and  read  the  book.  The 
struggle  seemed  to  be  between  life  and  death. 
At  last  he  handed  me  the  money,  took  the 
book,  and  went  out  of  the  room.  I  then 
handed  the  landlord  a  book  worth  more  than 
the  whiskey,  and  told  him  to  read  it,  and  then 
sell  it  to  make  up  the  loss.  This  is  only  a 
sample  of  every  day  occurrences  in  village  and 
city  colportage.  Eternity  only  will  reveal  the 
results. 

At  the  request  of  the  proprietors  of  a  large 
rolUng-mill,  I  visited  those  in  their  employ. 
*  Among  them  was  a  man  that  professed  to 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  31 

he  a  kind  of  Universalist  preaclier.  He  was 
a  boss  oyer  a  number  of  hands,  and  I  was 
told  was  shrewd  and  fond  of  argument,  and 
was  doing  much  injury  in  propagating  hi^ 
oj)inions.  Late  one  evening  I  called  at  his 
rooms.  There  was  no  one  in  but  his  wife.  I 
conversed  vrith.  her  some  time,  and  found  her 
a  pious  Christian  woman.  I  asked  her  about 
her  husband.  She  burst  into  tears,  and  said 
he  was  a  kind  husband, 'but  a  T\ieked  man; 
that  he  preached  sometimes,  and  was  a  Uni- 
versalist. 

TThile  I  was  urging  her  to  labor  and  pray 
for  his  salvation,  a  fine-looking .  man,  of  a 
haughty  mien  and  de]portment,  came  in. 

I  arose  and  introduced  myself,  and  asked 

if  he  was  'Mr.  Y ,  the  gentleman  of.  the 

house.  He  repHed  that  he  was.  I  then  told 
him  I  was  a  colporteur  visiting  fi'om  house  to 
house,  selling  and  gi^dng  books,  and  talking 
and  praying  ii^ith  the  people. 

"  Oh,  I  have  heard  of  you  about  here  for 
two  or  three  days.  I  am  a  UniversaHst,  sir ; 
I  do  n't  believe  there  is  any  such  place  as 
hell."  I  repHed  that  it  would  be  well  for 
many  of  us  if  that  doctrine  was  true,  and 


32  fl\E    YEARS 

asked  him  liow  long  lie  had  been  a  Univer- 
salist.  He  said  about  eight  years;  that  his 
mother  had  belonged  to  the  orthodox,  and 
^auglit  him  in  his  early  years  about  a  terrible 
place  called  hell,  and  that  he  knew  no  better 
till  about  eight  years  ago.  That  for  three  or 
four  years  after  he  heard  the  tnie  doctrine  of 
the  salvation  of  all  men,  he  was  troubled 
with  those  foolish  prejudices;  but  for  the 
last  four  years  he  had  never  had  a  soHtary 
pang  on  that  subject. 

I  repHed  that  it  was  often  hard  to  get  rid 
of  a  mother's  instructions  and  prayers ;  that 
it  had  taken  the  devil  four  years  to  silence 
his  conscience,  and  get  them  put  to  sleep. 

"  Do  you  feel  confident,"  I  said,  "  that  you 
are  this  moment  prepared  to  enter  heaven  if 
you  were  to  die?"  "Yes,"  said  he,  "as  cer- 
tain as  I  am  that  the  sun  rises  and  sets." 
"  Well, '  said  I,  "  is  not  this  rather  a  toilsome 
world  to  live  in?"  "Yes,"  said  he,  "it  is, 
and  I  have  a  full  share  of  it."  "  Then,"  said 
I,  "  why  not  cut  your  throat,  and  go  right  to 
heaven  tliis  evening?"  "Oh,"  said  he,  "I 
have  my  wife  to  provide  for."  "  Oh,"  said  I, 
"  cut  her  throat,  and  take  her  along."    "  Oh," 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  33 

said  he,  "  that  would  be  wrong."  "  No,"  said 
I,  "  if  jour  creed  is  right,  it  cannot  be  ^Tong; 
and  even  if  it  should,  you  would  be  done  with 
all  the  consequences  of  the  wrong  as  soon  as 
you  were  dead."  He  hung  his  head,  and 
made  no  fiu'ther  reply.  I  told  him  I  hoped 
that  he  had  seen  the  fallacy  of  his  belief,  and 
would  at  once  abandon  such  soul-destroying 
opinions.  I  sold  him  several  books,  and  left 
him. 

As  thd  men  worked  by  turns  all  night  in 
the  rolling-mills,  and  it  was  difficult  to  gain 
access  to  them,  one  of  the  proprietors  pr(> 
posed  that  he  would  join  me  to  visit  them  all 
the  next  Sabbath,  when  they  often  gathered 
in  groups  to  play  cards  and  drink.  Accord- 
ingly the  next  Sabbath  morning  we  were 
joined  by  a  theological  student,  and  com- 
menced going  round  the  houses  and  rooms, 
near  one  hundred  in  number. 

Late  in  the  evening  we  entered  the  apart- 
ments of  Mr.  Y and  his  wife.    They  were 

sitting  reading  new  books,  which  I  think  were 
those  I  had  sold  them.  I  said,  "  Good  even- 
ing, Mr.  V .    I  have  come  to  talk  with  you 

again,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  you  reading  those 


34  FIVE   YEARS 

books.  I  hope  you  have  clianged  your  mind 
on  religious  subjects."  "No,"  said  he,  "I 
am  more  convinced  than  ever  that  I  am 
right."  "Well,"  said  I,  "I  want  to  ask  you 
a  few  questions  by  the  way  of  information, 
as  you  profess  to  have  a  near  cut  to  heaven." 
Said  he,  "I  am  not  going  to  answer  anymore 
of  your  questions.  I  don't  like  to  be  criti- 
cized." I  told  him  I  would  only  ask  him 
easy  questions ;  that  I  wanted  to  know  what 
that  scripture  meant  which  speaks  of  a  class 
of  men  who  "shall  not  be  forgiven,  neither 
jn  this  world,  nor  in  the  world  to  come." 
Said  he,  "I  am  not  going  to  answer  any 
more  questions." 

Mr.  E said  he  would  like  to  ask  him 

one  question.  "  There  were  two  thieves  cru- 
cified with  Christ.  He  said  to  the  one,  '  This 
day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise ;'  where 
did  the  other  go?"     He  made  no  answer. 

We  all  three  united  in  urging  him  to  repent 
and  believe  in  Christ,  but  he  made  no  answer. 
At  last  I  said,  "  Brethren,  unless  God  will 
hear  and  answer  prayer  in  this  man's  behalf, 
he  is  a  lost  man."  His  wife  was  weeping  as  if 
her  heart  would  break.     We  knelt  in  prayer, 


IN   THE   ALLEaHANIES.  35 

and  I  think  there  were  four  earnest  hearts 
lifted  up  to  God.  He  sat  still  some  miuutes, 
but  at  last  he  knelt.  When  we  rose  from 
our  knees  the  tears  were  running  down  his 
cheeks.  I  said,  "Do  jou  feel  no  *  pangs' 
now?"  "With  a  sob  that  seemed  to  come 
from  his  heart,  he  said,  "  I  do  n't  know  what 
has  come  over  me."  "We  then  pointed  him  to 
the  Saviour,  and  told  him  we  beheved  his 
feelings  were  produced  by  the  Sphit  of  God. 
Of  all  the  penitents  that  I  have  ever  seen,  I 
hardly  remember  one  who  seemed  so  deeply 
moved  as  this  man.  During  the  time  he  re- 
mained in  that  place  he  seemed  to  be  an  en- 
tirely changed  man. 

One  day,  accompanied  by  the  Kev.  Mr. 
J ,  we  called  at  the  office  of  a  very  fine- 
looking  gentleman,  and  introduced  the  sub- 
ject of  rehgion  to  him.  He  was  rather  surly 
and  sceptical.  I  proposed  to  sell  him  a  book, 
but  he  declined,  saying  that  he  seldom  read 
such  books.  At  last  I  proposed  to  give  him 
a  copy  of  Nelson  on  Infidehty,  and  went  on 
to  say  that  it  equalled  any  romance  in  inter- 
est. At  last  he  said,  "  I  have  money  plenty 
to  buy  books,  and  as  you  are  so  urgent  about 


36  FIVE    YEARS 

it,  I  will  buy  it,  and  read  it ;  and  if  it  is  not 
as  good  as  you  say  it  is,  I  will  give  you  a 
thrasliing  the  fii'st  time  I  catch  you."  I  told 
him  I  would  run  the  risk  of  that  if  he  would 
read  the  book  carefully. 

About  ten  days  after  we  were  passing 
again,  and  called  on  him.  He  met  us  in  the 
most  cordial  manner.  I  told  him  I  had  called 
to  see  whether  he  would  thrash  me  or  not  for 
the  book  I  had  sold  him.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "it  is 
the  best  book  I  eyer  read.  I  woidd  not  take 
five  dollars  for  it,  if  I  could  not  get  another  like 
it."  We  foimd  him  deeply  anxious  about  his 
soul.  After  a  long  talk  with  him,  I  told  him 
I  was  about  to  close  my  labors  there,  and 
neyer  expected  to  meet  him  again  in  this 
world,  and-  ui-ged  him  to  meet  me  in  heayen. 
"With  tears  running  down  his  cheeks,  he  said 

to  Mr.  J ,  "  Will  you  not  come  and  see 

me  again?"     Mr.  J said  with  tears  that 

he  would,  and  he  no  doubt  did  yery  fi*e- 
quently. 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  37 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

Calling  one  day  at  a  fine  country-house  in 
Western  Pennsylvania,  I  found  a  prosperous 
Ii'ish  family  of  more  than  ordinary  intelli- 
gence. I  inquired  if  they  wanted  some  good 
religious  books.  The  father  replied,  "  "Wliat 
kind  of  relet  gill  do  you  "^ach?"  I  rephed, 
"The  holy  catholic  reUgion."  "Ah,  it's  not 
the  Eoman-cathohc  relagin.  "^Miat  objec- 
tion have  you  to  the  Eoman-cathoHc  rela- 
gin?" I  replied  that  all  that  I  desired  was, 
to  teach  the  people  to  repent  and  beheye  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  to  lead  holy  Hves, 
and  that  I  was  not  going  about  to  argue  with 
people  about  their  churches.  Still  he  insist- 
ed on  my  telling  him  what  objections  I  had 
to  the  Eoman-cathohc  chui'ch. 

At  last  I  told  him  they  violated  the  second 
commandment  by  the  use  of  images  in  the 
worship  of  God.  But  this  he  denied.  I  asked 
him  to  get  his  Bible  and  compare  it  with  mine. 
He  brought  out  the  Douay  Catechism  to  prove 
he  was  right,  and  told  me  that  was  his  Bible. 


38  FIVE    YEARS 

I  got  mine ;  but  he  forbade  my  reading  it,  as 
it  was  a  heretic's  Bible.  I  insisted  on  having 
Bible  authority  for  the  use  of  images  hi  God's 
worship.  As  the  old  man  seemed  to  be  at  a 
loss  to  defend  his  position,  one  of  his  daugh- 
ters, a  beautiful  gu-1,  presented  herseK  before 
me,  and  said,  "I  can  give  you  Bible  plenty 
for  the  use  of  images,  and  the  good  resulting 
from  the  use  of  them.  What  was  it  that  Mo- 
ses put  up  on  th#  pole  for  the  Israehtes  to 
look  at  when  the  fiery  serpents  bit  them?" 
I  explained  to  her  that  the  brazen  serpent 
was  set  up,  not  to  be  worshipped,  but  simply 
looked  at  as  a  type  of  Christ,  to  whom  dying 
sinners  may  look  and  Hve.  But  all  my  efforts 
were  in  vain.  As  I  left  them,  she  was  still 
asking  me  to  repent,  and  come  over  to  the 
true  Eoman-cathoHc  church  as  the  only  place 
of  safety. 

A  few  days  after,  the  Eev.  Mr.  J re- 
quested me  to  visit  the  town  of  S ,  where 

he  occasionally  preached,  and  had  made  an 
appointment  for  me  to  address  the  jDeople  at 
night,  preparatory  to  visiting  all  the  famihes. 
He  gave  me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  one  of 
his  members,  who  lived  a.  mile  fi'om  the  vil- 


IN    THE   ALLEGHAMES.  39 

lage,  and  who  he  expected  would  go  with  me. 
I  came  to  liis  house  near  dark,  almost  frozen. 
He  received  me  very  coldly,  and  neither  of- 
fered me  food  or  company.  I  inquired  the 
way  to  town,  and  soon  left. 

The  night  was  dark,  the  snow  deep,  the 
cold  intense,  and  I  was  an  entire  stranger  in 
the  place.  As  I  rode  along  the  street,  every 
door  and  window  was  shut,  till  I  came  to  a 
store.  I  tied  my  horse  and  stepped  ia,  and 
found  a  large,  fine-looking  man  sitting  by  the 
stove  alone.     By  asking  a  few  questions,  I 

learned  it  was  Mr.  S ,  the  proprietor  of 

the  town.  I  told  him  I  was  glad  to  make  his 
acquaintance.     That  I  had  come  there  at  the 

request  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  J ,  to  hold  a  meet* 

ing  that  night,  and  to  spend  a  few  days  vis- 
iting his  people  and  supplying  them  with  good 
religious  books,. and  I  would  be  glad  to  have 
his  counsel  and  advice  as  to  the  best  way  to 
do  it. 

Said  he,  *'  It  depends  very  much,  su',  on  the 
kind  of  religious  books  you  want  to  circulate 
here.  I  suppose  you  have  the  Confession  of 
Faith  of  the  Presbyterian  chui'ch  among  them, 
and  I  can  prove  that  it  is  full  of  falsehoods  ; 


40  riYE    YEARS 

and  more  tlian  that,  I  Tvant  jou  to  know,  sir, 
that  I  have  made  a  promise  to  kick  out  of  my 
house  every  man  that  comes  in  it  that  has 
graduated  at  Jefferson  College,  and  studied 
theology  at  the  Western  Seminary."  As  he 
closed  the  sentence,  he  stood  up  before  me,  as 
if  he  was  going  to  make  good  his  promise.  I 
requested  him  to  wait  till  I  should  explain  my 
object.  I  told  him  I  had  no  Confessions 
of  Faith,  nor  any  denominational  books ;  that 
they  were  all  the  books  of  the  American  Tract 
Society,  and  approved  by  nearly  all  evangel- 
ical Christians,  and  consequently  not  secta- 
rian. And  as  to  the  other  objection,  I  had 
never  graduated  either  at  Jefferson  College 
or  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  conse- 
quently he  was  barking  up  the  wrong  tree. 
"  Why,"  said  he,  "  are  you  not  a  Pres- 
byterian preacher  ?"  "  No,  .sir,"  said  I,  "  I 
have  not  the  honor  to  be  a  preacher."  He 
turned  instantly  and  walked  out,  leaving  me 
alone. 

I  stepped  to  the  door,  and  asked  a  little  boy 

who  was  passing  if  there  was  a  Mr.  G 

living  in  the  town.  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  he  lives 
in  the  adjoining  house."     I  stepped  to  the 


'  IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  41 

door,  and  was  cordially  greeted  by  an  old 
acquaintance.  In  a  few  minutes  I  was  seated 
at  a  sumptuously  supplied  table,  wliich  I  very 
much  needed;  and  an  hour  after  was  in  a 
school -house,  holding  forth  to  the  people, 
with  my  belligerent  friend  for  one  of  my  hear- 
ers.    I  visited  all  the  town ;  but  Mr.  S 

carefully  avoided  meeting  me,  always  turning 
away  to  shun  me ;  but  I  suppUed  his  family 
with  a  good  stock  of  books. 

At  the  close  of  my  labors  in  that  to-^iMi,  I 
entered  a  very  hilly  region  of  country,  and 

stopped  over  night  with  a  Mr.  W ,  an 

aged,  infirm  man,  who  sent  his  son  with  me 
the  next  day  to  hunt  up  the  cabins  of  the 
poor.  The  son  had  spent  some  years  in  a 
roving  life,  and  seemed  totally  indifferent 
ajDOut  religion. 

In  the  first  cabin  we  called  at,  we  found  a 
young  woman  in  the  last  stages  of  a  decline. 
I  have  seldom  seen  any  soul  so  full  of  joy  and 
peace.  She  talked  more  hke  an  inhabitant 
of  heaven  than  of  earth.  "While  we  spoke  of 
Chi'ist's  love,  and  what  he  had  done  for  her, 
I  saw  the  tears  course  down  my  companion's 


42  riVE    YEARS 

cheeks.  When  we  left  her  he  said, "  Rehgion 
is  a  reahty." 

After  visiting  a  few  more  families,  we  came 
in  sight  of  a  beautiful  farm,  which  lay  in  a 

valley.     Mr.  'W said  to  me,  "  I  ^ill  not 

go  "s\ith  you  to  that  man's  house.  He  is  an 
imbehever,  and  a  shrewd  fellow,  and  if  you 
talk  to  him  on  rehgion  as  you  have  done  to 
others,  he  will  get  mad,  and  insult  you.  BQs 
wife  is  pious ;  but  I  have  heard  him  say  that 
when  the  preacher  came  to  visit  his  family  he 
kept  out  of  the  way,  because  he  did  not  "v\ish 
to  insult  him;  and  he  vd]!  certainly  insult 
you,  if  you  speak  to  him  on  that  subject." 
Said  I,  "  He  has  the  more  need  to  be  visited. 
Such  persons  are  the  very  ones  I  am  sent  to 
hunt  up ;  but  as  he  may  take  offence  at  you 
for  leading  me  to  his  house,  you  may  fall  be- 
hind, and  come  up  after  me,"  which  he  con- 
cluded to  do. 

As  I  approached  the  house,  I  got  off  my 
horse,  and  took  my  big  saddle-bags,  filled 
with  books,  on  my  arm,  and  stej^ped  into  the 
house.  In  a  few  minutes  all  the  children  were 
in.  They  were  fine,  intelhgent  children ;  and 
to  my  surprise,  I  recognized  their  mother  as  a 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  43 

once  dashing  young  lady  I  had  known  well 
fifteen  years  before  ;  but  she  had  entirely  for- 
gotten me. 

In  a  few  minutes  in  came  my  travelling 

companion   and   Mr.  C ^n.ih.  him;   Mr. 

C 's  face  indicating  gi*eat  determination 

and  firmness.  I  immediately  began  to  hunt  for 
a  text  to  begin  with,  and  chose  a  Httle  girl  of 
three  or  four  years  old,  whom  I  called  to  my 
side.  I  began  to  tell. her  about  Jesus,  and 
what  he  did  to  save  sinners,  and  how  deeply 
praying  fathers  and  mothers  felt  for  their 
dear  children,  whom  they  would  soon  meet 
at  the  bar  of  God.  I  asked  her  if  father  and 
mother  did  not  pray  for  her.  By  this  time 
the  mother  and  the  oldest  daughter  were 
weeping  freely.  I  asked  the  mother  if  she 
would  not  rather  see  her  children  converted 
to  God  than  any  thing  else.  "  Oh,  yes,"  she 
exclaimed,  "it  burdens  my  heart."     I  cast 

my  eye  round  towards  Mr.  C and  Mr. 

W ,  and  both  were  weeping. 

"  Mr.  C ,"  said  I,  "  do  n't  you  feel  con- 
cerned about  the  souls  of  this  interesting 
group  of  children  which  God  has  given  you 
to  train  up  for  him?"     "Not  as  much  as  I 


44  FIVE    YEARS 

ought  to  do."  His  heart  was  so  full  he  could 
scarcely  iitter  one  word.  Said  I,  "Ai'e  you 
not  a  professor  of  rehgion  ?"  "  No,  I  am  not. 
I  have  been  a  very  careless  man  on  that  sub- 
ject. When  I  was  a  young  man  I  was  very 
much  concerned  for  a  while,  but  I  fell  in  with 
wicked  young  men,  and  read  bad  books,  and 
I  have  entu'ely  neglected  rehgion  ever  since. 
But  I  do  n't  know  what  has  come  over  me 
now." 

"  I  tnist,"  said  I,  "  it  is  the  Sph:it  of  God 
that  has  touched  your  heart,  and  I  beseech 
you  now  to  yield  to  his  di^dne  solicitations ; 
not  to  delay  for  one  moment.  11  you  resist 
the  Holy  Ghost  now,  he  may  leave  you  for 
ever,  and  then  your  doom  T\ill  be  sealed ;  but 
if  you  now  give  up  all  for  Christ,  you  will  find 
peace,  and  there  may  be  joy  in  heaven  among 
the  angels  this  moment."  He  cried  out  in 
the  agony  of  his  soul,  "  What  shall  I  do  to  be 
saved?"  I  urged  him  to  enter  that  night  on 
all  the  duties  that  God  had  enjoined  on  him ; 
to  read  his  Bible,  and  pray  for  himself  and 
family.  He  pledged  his  word  to  me  to  do  it. 
He  kept  that  pledge.  I  prayed  with  him,  sold 
him  eighteen  volumes  of  good  books,  and  left 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  45 

the  whole  family  in  tears.     He  soon  after 

joined  the  church ;   and  Mr.  W ,  I  was 

told,  professed  reHgion  soon  after,  and  attrib- 
uted his  conversion  to  a  day's  travel  with  a 
colporteiu*. 

I  held  a  prayer-meeting  that  night  at  the 

house  of  Mr.  H ,  a  man  of  remarkable 

piety  and  benevolence.  He  told  me  of  an 
incident  that  marked  his  whole  life,  and  made 
him  what  he  was.  Said  he,  "  I  served  my 
time  with  a  hard  master  to  learn  the  wagon- 
making  business.  I  had  engaged  to  go,  the 
day  I  was  free,  some  forty  miles  to  work  as  a 
journeyman;  The  evening  before  I  was  to 
start,  a  good  man  gave  me  his  advice,  and  at 
the  close  asked  me  if  I  had  money  to  pay  my 
way.  I  told  him  I  had  no  money,  but  could 
get  there,  as  I  was  going  to  walk.  He  hand- 
ed me  fifty  cents,  all  he  had,  as  a  present. 
While  on  my  way  I  met  a  poor  miserable 
man  begging.  He  told  me  he  was  starving. 
I  gave  him  the  fifty  cents,  as  I  had  no  way 
to  divide  it.  Before  I  had  gone  many  rods  I 
found  a  silver  dollar  lying  on  the  road,  over 
which  he  had  stepped.  I  said  to  myself, 
*  God  sent  tliis^'  and  I  determined  to  serve  him 


46  FIVE    YEARS 

all  the  days  of  my  life;  and  he  has  blessed 
me  ever  since." 

In  a  few  days  I  commenced  labor  along  the 
line  between  Western  Pennsylvania  and  West- 
ern Yirginia.     The  Eev.  Mr.  E took  a 

deep  interest  in  my  work,  and  travelled  more 
than  a  week  with  me.  Our  work  made  quite 
a  stir  among  the  people.  The  news  spread 
that  we  were  enteiing  every  house,  talking 
and  praying. 

We  set  a  day  to  visit  a  neighborhood  that 
was  noted  for  its  wickedness.  There  were 
several  families  owning  fine  farms  who  never 
entered  a  chui'ch.  On  the  day  set,  we  took 
an  early  start.  As  we  api^roached  the  first 
house,  we  saw  all  the  inmates  running  to  the 
barn.  We  knocked  at  the  door,  but  no  an- 
swer. We  went  to  the  bam ;  but  before  we 
reached  it  they  were  runniag  across  the  ad- 
joining field.  We  understood  the  cause,  and 
came  back  to  the  house,  and  put  in  at  the 
window  Baxter's  Call  and  a  few  suitable 
tracts,  with  the  earnest  prayer  for  God's  bless- 
ing to  attend  the  reading  of  them. 

We  went  on  to  the  next  house,  but  it  was 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  47 

closed,  and  no  one  to  be  found.  We  here 
also  installed  Baxter  and  several  other  preach- 
ers through  the  mndow;  and  so  on  till  we 
had  visited  six  famiHes.  At  every  one  of 
these  houses  the  people  either  fled  or  con- 
cealed themselves  at  our  approach.  Mr.  E 

pleasantly  observed,  as  we  vrere  poor  men, 
he  thought  the  best  thing  we  could  do  for  our 
worldly  interests  would  be  to  take  possession 
of  the  property,  for  he  supposed  they  would 
never  come  to  dispossess  us.  Great  fear  fell 
upon  sinners  at  oui'  approach. 

A  few  miles  distant  I  held  a  prayer-meet- 
ing one  night,  and  had  a  large  crowd.  At 
the  close,  I  laid  my  books  on  the  table,  and 
told  them  that  I  would  sell  to  any  that  wanted 
to  buy.  In  a  little  time  the  man  of  the  house 
told  me  that  a  man  had  stolen  his  pocket  fiill; 
that  he  was  a  very  bad  man,  and  we  should 
have  a  fight  if  we  attempted  to  take  them 
fi'om  him.  Among  them  was  a  fine  pocket 
Bible.  So  I  concluded  to  let  them  go,  and 
pray  that  God  would  overrule  his  wickedness 
for  good. 

Some  weeks  after,  while  visiting  along  the 
Ohio  river  hills  among  the  wood-choppers 


48  FIVE    YEARS 

near  tlia  same  place,  I  called  at  a  cabin,  and 
found  a  woman  in  deep  distress  about  her 
soul.  Slie  told  me  slie  had  got  a  book  that 
was  the  cause.  That  a  man  had  sold  it  to  a 
neighbor.  They  were  the  fourth  family  that 
had  read  it,  and  all  were  concerned  about 
their  souls.  I  found  all  the  families  she 
named,  and  the  book  thus  blessed  was  a  copy 
of  Baxter's  Call  which  that  man  stole  fi'om 
me  and  sold  to  one  of  these  families. 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  49 


CHAPTEK   Y. 

DTJEixa  my  labors  in  this  region  I  was  fre- 
quently requested  to  ^dsit  G ,  a  town  that 

had  been  laid  out  about  the  close  of  the  Eevo- 
lutionary  war,  and  is  noticed  in  the  history 
of  the  Indian  wars  as  being  near  the  scene 
of  some  bloody  struggles.  It  contained  over 
three  hundred  inhabitants,  but  never  had  a 
church  in  it.  A  good  man  built  one  near 
by. 

The  Eev.  Mr.  E sent  a  notice  that  he 

and  I  would  be  there  on  a  certain  evening  to 
hold  a  meeting.  A  few  came.  He  preached, 
and  I  made  a  statement  about  my  work,  and 
told  them  I  was  going  to  visit  the  town  to 
talk  and  pray  with  each  family,  and  supply 
them  with  rehgious  books.  I  had  engaged  a 
class-leader  in  the  Methodist  church,  who 
hved  a  few  miles  distant,  to  go  with  me. 

We  entered  the  village  the  next  morning 
soon  after  breakfast.  The  first  four  or  five 
houses  we  stopped  at  we  could  find  no  one  at 
home,  and  we  soon  found  they  were  hiding 


50  FIVE    YEARS 

from  US.  We  could  see  heads  out  at  the  doors 
and  windows  as  vre  approached  the  house ; 
but  when  we  would  knock  there  was  no  an- 
swer. As  soon  as  we  understood  the  matter, 
I  told  my  colaborer  they  shoidd  not  foil  us 
in  this  way ;  that  I  would  install  preachers  in 
every  house  before  I  left  the  place.  I  im- 
mediately commenced  pushing  in  the  old  hats 
that  were  stuck  in  the  broken  windows,  and 
thi'ew  into  the  houses  a  Baxter's  Call,  Al- 
leine's  Alarm,  or  a  Sabbath  Manual,  and  some 
of  the  most  awakening  tracts. 

We  spent  two  days  in  this  work.  With  all 
the  skill  we  could  use,  we  did  not  get  into 
one  third  of  the  houses;  but  we  put  good 
books  into  every  one. 

Some  few  months  after,  a  minister  who  was 
preaching  near  by  found  many  interested 
about  their  souls.  He  held  daily  meetings 
for  some  time,  and  more  than  fifty  professed 
faith  in  Christ ;  many  dating  their  first  re- 
Hgious  impressions  to  the  silent  preachers 
thro^Ti  into  their  houses  at  the  time  of  our 
visit.  In  1861,  on  the  raih'oad,  I  passed  in 
sight  of  this  to^Ti  lying  across  the  Ohio  river, 
and  instead  of  the  old  dilapidated  village  it 


.      IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  61 

was  seventeen  years  before,  it  looked  to  be 
new  and  flonrisliing. 

At  the  close  of  my  labors  in  that  communitj 

I  went  to  B county,  Ya.,  at  the  request 

of  Eev.  Mr.  W ,  who  had  a  large  country 

charge  and  was  laid  up  by  bad  health.  He 
requested  me,  in  addition  to  visiting  all  the 
families,  to  hold  prayer-meetings  among  his 
people  every  night.  This  I  did  for  one  month, 
and  God's  Spirit  seemed  to  be  present  at 
every  meeting.  Every  one  I  talked  with 
seemed  to  be  moved  by  the  Sj^irit.  I  sold 
more  than  §200  worth  of  books ;  and  a  few 
months  after,  more  than  one  hundred  persons 
were  added  to  the  churches.  Mr.  "W af- 
terwards stated  that  a  large  portion  of  them 
had  been  led  to  consideration  by  reading  the 
books  we  scattered  among  them. 

He  often  gave  me  directions  where  to  go, 
and  what  kind  of  people  I  should  find  them 
to  be.  On  one  occasion  he  directed  me  to  a 
neighborhood  where  he  had  foiu'  or  five  fam- 
ilies hving  some  miles  from  the  church.  The 
parents  all  professors,  "with  large  irrehgious 
famihes,  and  no  family  altars. 

The  first  family  of  them  I  called  on,  I  soon 


52  FIVE   YEARS 

found  to  be  but  little  interested  about  relig- 
ion. I  spoke  with  the  father  as  if  he  were  a 
devout  praying  man ;  but  told  him  I  had  no 
doubt  there  were  some  prayerless  families  in 
that  neighborhood;  and  that  God  had  de- 
clared that  he  would  "  pour  out  his  fury  on 
the  families  that  caU  not  on  his  name."  I 
spoke  of  the  sad  effect  of  such  ungodly  hying 
on  children,  and  urged  him  to  try  and  talk 
with  all  his  neighbors  about  it,  and  to  go  with 
me  a  day  or  two  till  we  shoidd  try  to  wake  up 
such  professors  of  religion.  His  family  were 
present.     I  saw  his  very  soul  was  pierced. 

I  visited  all  the  families  the  same  way. 
God's  Spiiit  seemed  to  stir  every  soul.  In  a 
few  months  after,  the  pastor  was  able  to  visit 
them,  and  found  that  each  had  estabhshed 
the  family  altar.  Each  one  resolved  that  he 
would  begin  to  pray  in  his  o-^ii  family,  and 
then  he  could  go  and  ui'ge  others  to  do  the 
same.  Neither  of  them  supposed  that  I  sus- 
pected them  of  living  without  prayer  till  they 
began  to  compare  notes ;  and  then  they  found 
I  had  talked  to  all  the  same  way.  They  sent 
me  their  thanks  by  their  pastor  for  "  catching 
them  with  guile." 


IN   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  53 

In  anotlier  neigliborlioocl,  I  was  urged  by 
a  very  good  man  to  visit  his  brother-in-law, 
who  he  told  me  was  a  wicked  man,  and  rais- 
ing a  large  family  like  heathen.  He  told  me 
that  he  was  a  gentleman  in  his  behavior  to 
strangers,  and  would  treat  me  kindly ;  but  to 
secure  for  me  a  kind  reception,  he  sent  with 
me  a  young  man  who  was  a  nephew  both  of 
himself  and  of  the  gentleman.  The  day  was 
extremely  cold,  and  the  distance  some  four  or 
five  miles.  We  visited  several  cabins  along 
the  river  hills,  and  expected  to  reach  his  house 
about  noon,  and  remain  there  till  the  next 
day. 

About  one  o'clock  we  came  to  the  place. 
It  seemed  to  be  the  abode  of  plenty.  We 
tied  our  horses,  and  entered  a  large  front  room. 

Mr.  C ,  the  head  of  the  family,  was  in  it 

alone,  shelling  com  on  a  machine,  keeping  up 
a  hot  fire  by  burning  the  cobs.  His  nephew 
introduced  me  to  him,  but  he  scarce  looked  at 
me,  spoke  very  httle,  and  went  on  with  his 
work,  '^dthout  asking  me  even  to  sit  down. 
We  both  sat  some  time  without  a  word  being 
spoken,  when  the  young  man  passed  through 
into  another  room,  where  the  family  were  talk- 


5-i  FIVE    YEARS 

ing.  As  soon  as  I  got  warm,  I  concluded  to 
ti'Y  and  do  my  work  and  leaye  the  house,  as 
every  thing  looked  rather  gloomy. 

He  was  a  big,  fierce-looking  man.  His  coun- 
tenance indicated  that  he  was  a  very  wicked 
man,  which  proved  to  be  the  fact.  I  some- 
times thought  it  would  be  best  to  leave  him 
without  saying  any  thiag,  but  my  conscience 
would  not  let  me  do  that.     At  last  I  said,  "  Mr. 

C ,  I  am  engaged  in  distributing  good 

rehgious  books,  pubhshed  by  the  American 
Tract  Society,  and  I  have  called  to  supply 
you  and  youi'  family  with  them."  I  had  scarce- 
ly got  the  words  spoken,  when  he  sprang  right 
before  me,  with  his  fist  clinched,  and  called 
me  a  horse-thief  and  robber,  and  every  vile 
name  that  a  vile  tongiie  could  use,  inter- 
spersed with  the  most  aT^-ful  oaths  I  ever 
heard.  He  rubbed  his  fist  under  my  nose, 
and  swore  he  would  smash  my  face  into  a 
jelly.  I  sat  still  for  some  time  without  speak- 
ing, in  the  hope  that  he  would  stop,  that  I 
might  reason  with  him ;  but  it  was  in  vain. 

At  last  I  thought,  if  I  am  the  cause  of  this 
man's  sinning  so  much,  I  -^ill  leave  him.  I  rose 
to  my  feet  and  said,  "  Mr.  C ,  if  you  will 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  55 

stop  a  moment  till  I  speak,  I  will  leave  your 
house.     I  came  here  at  the  special  rec[uest  of 

Mr.  E ,  your  brother-in-law,  to  try  to  do 

good  to  you  and  your  family.  And  now,  su-, 
I  warn  you,  that  if  you  do  not  repent  you  will 
perish.  I  leave  a  message  from  God  to  you 
on  this  table,"  placing  there  Baxter's  Call  and 
a  number  of  tracts ;  "  and  if  you  reject  them, 
they  will  meet  you  as  witnesses  on  the  judg- 
ment-day." The  -^Nicked  man  quailed,  and 
tried  to  make  apologies  for  his  abuse  of  me ; 
but  I  told  him  to  ask  God  for  pardon,  and  not 
me,  for  I  was  not  in  the  least  injured.  I  never 
saw  the  place  or  the  man  afterwards ;  but  I 
heard  he  soon  went  to  ruin.  None  of  the  fam- 
ily showed  their  faces  during  the  interview. 

Eighteen  years  have  now  passed  since  these 
labors  were  performed,  and  sufficient  time  has 
elapsed  for  all  the  dust  and  excitement  to  pass 
away  ;  and  on  a  calm  review  of  that  period  of 
my  life  and  labors,  I  look  on  it  as  the  most 
important  of  any  through  which  I  ever  passed  : 
not  in  actual  results,  but  in  the  development 
of  a  gTeat  system  of  evangelization,  which  has 
carried  salvation  to  thousands  who  had  never 
been  reached  by  saving  truth.    A  few  had  pre- 


56  FIVE    YEARS 

viously  entered  this  field  of  ClirLstian  effoii; 
for  tlie  destitute,  and  done  mucli,  north  and 
west ;  but  this  was  the  beginning  of  the  work 
in  the  middle  and  southern  states,  which  has 
reached  millions  of  all  classes  and  conditions, 
both  bond  and  free.  As  to  myseK,  I  found  it 
the  best  school  I  ever  entered  for  spiritual 
and  intellectual  improvement,  and  if  I  have 
since  been  the  instrument  of  any  good  to  my 
fellow-men,  the  labors  of  the  Httle  time  refer- 
red to  prepared  me  for  it. 

At  the  close  of  this  month's  work,  two  gen- 
tlemen called  on  me  one  evening,  and  re- 
quested me  to  take  a  walk  in  the  -soilage  of 

P .     I  was  soon  led  into  a  tailor's  shop, 

and  had  my  measui-e  taken ;  and  then  fi-om 
one  store  to  another,  till  a  fine  new  suit,  from 
head  to  foot,  was  selected,  costing  near  fifty 
dollars. 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES,  5t 


CHAPTEE   YI. 

April  1,  1845,  I  commenced  mj  labors  in 

the  town  of  F ,  in  Western  Yirginia.     As 

soon  as  tlie  object  of  mj  visit  to  tbat  region 
was  known,  I  received  a  cordial  welcome  from 
a  large  majority  of  tlie  people,  who  did  all 

they  could  to  aid  me  in  my  work.    Mr.  P , 

a  young  lawyer  at  that  time,  and  since  gov- 
ernor of  Western  Yii'ginia,  volunteered  to  go 
with  me  to  every  house  in  the  town.  His 
high  position  and  universal  popularity  made 
the  work  j)leasant  and  successful.  In  three 
days  my  buggy  load  of  books  were  circulated 
in  the  village. 

I  immediately  replenished,  my  stock,  and 
commenced  my  work  in  the  country  among 
the  mountains.  It  was  Kke  a  translation  from 
surJight  into  darkness — from  a  high  civiliza- 
tion into  one  of  ignorance  and  superstition, 
with  here  and  there  a  family  of  wealth  and 
refinement. 

The  very  broken,  rugged  state  of  the  coun- 
try, with   a   sparse  population,  rendered  it 


58  i'lVE    YEAILS 

impossible  for  the  people  to  support  either 
schools  or  churches.  Consequently  in  many 
isolated  communities  whole  families  grew  up 
without  any  one  knowing  the  alphabet,  and 
very  few  places  had  preaching  more  than 
once  in  a  month,  and  that  on  a  week-day  in 
some  log  cabin  to  a  few  women.  I  have  vis- 
ited as  many  as  ten  families  in  succession,  in 
one  case  fourteen,  T^ithout  finding  a  Bible. 
It  will  hardly  be  thought  strange  that  youth 
of  both  sexes  were  often  found  who  could 
not  tell  who  is  the  Savioiu'  of  sinners,  and 
that  when  they  were  told  of  Christ  dying 
for  sinners,  they  would  look  incredulous  and 
say,  we  live  so  much  out  of  the  way  that  we 
never  hear  any  news.  They  often  lived  in 
small  cabins,  without  any  furniture  but  such 
as  they  made  with  an  axe  and  an  auger.  AU 
they  raised  to  eat  was  corn  and  potatoes,  with 
a  few  hogs  ;  most  of  theii*  meat  being  that  of 
the  various  wild  animals  which  abounded  in 
the  mountains.  They  were  mostly  kind  and 
hospitable,  and  seemed  to  be  sorry  that  they 
could  not  accommodate  me  better.  I  shall 
endeavor  faiUifully  to  describe  one  journey, 
which  will  represent  many  more. 


IN   THE   ALLEGHAXIES.  59 

About  the  time  I  went  into  that  region,  a 
new  missionary  circuit  had  been  laid  out  by 
the  ]\f^thodist  Protestant  church  through  a 
broken  mountain  country,  where  the  gospel 
had  never  been  preached ;  and  the  Eev.  Mr. 

C was  ap)pointed  to  go  round  it  once  in 

each  month,  which  requhed  a  ride  of  more 
than  one  hundred  miles,  most  of  the  way  by 
mere  bridle  paths. 

He  had  been  once  or  twice  round  the  cir- 
cuit before  I  became  acquainted  with  him. 
As  soon  as  he  learned  my  business  he  inyited 
me  to  go  with  him.  He  told  me  the  people 
were  without  books  of  any  kind,  that  very 
few  could  read,  and  that  many  of  them  were 
not  half  civiHzed ;  that  at  one  house,  where 
he  spent  the  night,  they  cut  off  the  skirts  of 
his  saddle  to  sole  their  moccasins,  and  at  an- 
other the  woman  cut  off  the  tail  of  his  over- 
coat to  make  a  pair  of  pants  for  a  little  boy. 
I  agi-eed  to  go,  and  at  the  set  time  we  filled 
each  of  our  saddle-bags  with  little  books  and 
tracts,  and  our  pockets  with  lunch. 

The  first  apjDointment  was  some  twenty 
miles  distant,  and  we  had  to  start  the  even- 
ing before.     We  stopped  over  night  with  a 


60  FIVE   YEARS 

wealtliy  Christian  family,  and  fared  sumptu- 
ously. 

The  next  day  we  rode  twelve  mfles  to 
the  place  where  he  was  to  preach.  They 
had  a  church  built  of  round  logs.  It  had  no 
floor  but  the  ground,  and  was  neither  chinked 
nor  daubed,  consequently  it  was  only  used  in 
warm  weather.  The  house  was  full  at  the 
appointed  houi\  More  than  half  of  the  con- 
gregation were  barefooted,  and  but  few  had 
on  them  more  than  two  garments.  Most  of 
the  men  came  in  with  their  guns  in  their 
hands,  and  a  good  supply  of  small  game  they 
had  killed  by  the  way.  The  guns  were  all 
set  up  in  the  corner  of  the  chui'ch,  and  the 
game  laid  beside  them. 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  C I  conducted 

the  service.  The  constant  responses  and 
loud  amens  indicated  the  deep  interest  they 
seemed  to  feel.  At  the  close  of  the  service 
I  requested  them  to  keep  their  seats,  and  told 
them  I  would  go  round  and  give  each  a  tract 
or  httle  book.  More  than  half  the  families 
represented  were  destitute  of  the  Bible.  The 
tracts  and  books  were  received  with  very  great 
joy,  though  few  could  read  a  word  in  them. 


IN   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  61 

At  the  close  we  had  to  ride  some  miles  to 
a  stopping  place  for  the  night.  We  fonnd 
the  cabin  small  and  destitute  of  any  seats  ex- 
cept stools.  The  beds  were  poles  put  through 
the  corners,  covered  with  the  skins  of  deers 
and  bears.  Many  of  the  spaces  between  the 
logs  were  wide  enough  for  the  dogs  and  cats 
to  pass  out  and  in  at  pleasure.  The  food  was 
bread  made  of  corn  ground  in  a  hand  mill, 
or  pounded  in  a  hominy  block.  The  meat 
was  coon  or  opossum,  and  the  coffee  made 
of  chestnuts.  The  night  was  spent  in  self- 
defence  against  unseen  foes,  and  in  dread  of 
snakes.  After  partaking  of  a  breakfast  sim- 
ilar to  the  dinner  and  supper  just  described, 
and  praying  -^ith  the  family,  we  left  them. 

Our  appointment  for  that  day  was  about 
twelve  miles  distant,  with  a  constant  succes- 
sion of  mountains  to  cross.  We  stopped  at 
all  the  cabins  by  the  way,  which  were  about 
like  that  just  referred  to,  with  one  exception ; 
and  as  the  house  and  family  were  different 
from  any  that  I  have  ever  seen,  I  shall  try  to 
describe  them. 

The  cabin  was  about  eighteen  feet  square  ; 
had  been  the  birthplace  of  a  large  family; 


62  FIVE   YEARS 

had  neitlier  floor — except  the  earth — tipper 
story,  chimney,  chair,  table,  or  bed,  except  a 
pile  of  straw  in  one  corner,  and  an  old  sj)in- 
ning  wheel  and  loom.  The  family  we  saw 
consisted  of  the  father,  mother,  and  five 
daughters,  no  one  of  which,  we  supposed, 
would  weigh  less  than  one  hundi-ed  and  fifty 
pounds.  Each  of  the  females  had  on  a  sin- 
gle garment  made  of  coarse  hnen,  held  on  by 
a  drawing-string  round  the  neck,  all  fleshy 
and  hearty,  while  we  could  not  see  any  thing 
for  them  to  hye  upon. 

Ko  one  of  them  knew  a  letter  in  the  alpha- 
bet, or  who  was  the  Sayiour  of  sinners.  They 
were  children  of  natiu'e  isolated  from  the 
world,  equally  ignorant  of  both  its  yices  and 
its  yirtues.  We  spent  more  than  an  hour 
tr^-ing  to  teach  them  the  alphabet  of  Chiisti- 
anity,  and  then  commended  them  to  God. 
They  seemed  amazed  at  what  we  said ;  God 
only  knows  the  results. 

We  reached  the  place  where  our  eyening 
meeting  was  to  be  held  after  one  o'clock,  ex- 
hausted with  hunger  and  heat.  The  cabin 
was  but  httle  better  than  the  one  just  de- 
scribed ;  it  contained  some  kind  of  table  and 


IN   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  63 

a  few  stools,  but  had  neither  door  nor  floor, 
and  cattle  and  hogs  ran  into  it  to  avoid  the 
flies  when  they  chose. 

Mr.  C ,  whose  patience  was  nearly  ex- 
hausted, told  the  woman  that  we  were  almost 
starved,  and  to  hurry  and  get  us  something 
to  eat,  and  to  make  it  as  dean  and  as  good  as 
she  could.  The  children  were  sent  to  borrow 
tools ;  a  fire  was  soon  blazing  under  an  ar- 
bor made  of  bushes  near  the  house ;  a  pail 
of  meal  set  beside  it,  waiting  for  the  sMllet 
to  heat,  out  of  which  the  hens  helped  them- 
selves every  time  she  turned  her  back  to 
them.  The  children  soon  returned  with  a 
little  coffee-pot  minus  the  handle,  and  with  a 
knife  and  a  fork  one  prong  lacking. 

"VYe  were  soon  invited  in  to  our  dinner  from 
under  the  shade  of  a  tree  where  we  had  ob- 
served the  whole  process.  The  table  was  a 
block  of  wood,  with  four  legs  to  hold  it  up, 
and  a  stool  at  each  side  for  us  to  sit  on. 
Some  pet  pigs  were  under  it  waiting  for  the 
crumbs :  they  tramped  on  our  toes,  which  led 
us  to  kick  them ;  but  our  kind  hostess  soon 
made  the  children  catch  them  and  confine 
them  behind  my  back  in  a  big  gumm,  a  tub 


64  FIVE   YEARS 

sawn  off  a  hollow  log,  wliicli  treatment,  from 
their  noise,  thej  seemed  to  dislike  very  much. 

Soon  after  our  meal  was  finished  the  peo- 
ple began  to  gather  in  to  hear  the  gospel. 
The  cabin  was  more  than  full,  with  the  same 
appearance  of  the  congTegation  as  last  de- 
scribed. We  suppUed  all  with  books  and 
tracts — in  most  cases  with  the  first  book  thev 
eyer  had.  The  night  was  spent  much  like 
the  previous  one,  food  and  lodging  about  the 
same. 

The  next  morninc^  we  rode  nine  miles  to 
meet  another  appointment  at  eleven  o'clock. 
By  the  time  we  reached  the  j)lace  I  was  so 
sick  that  I  had  to  lie  down,  while  brother 

C preached  to  the  jDeople  fi^om  Jeremiah 

6 :  16.  At  the  close  we  sujDphed  all  with  ht- 
tle  books  and  tracts,  and  received  many 
thanks.  The  dinner  was  set  under  a  shed 
outside  of  the  house,  but  the  sight  of  it  sent 
me  out  to  the  shade  of  a  tree  so  sick  that  I 
could  not  stand  on  my  feet. 

I  then  told  brother  C that  I  should  be 

compelled  to  make  my  escape  to  some  place 
where  I  could  get  something  to  eat  and  take 
some  rest;  and  asked  him  to  take  all  the 


IN  THE  allegha:;ies.  65 

books  and  give  tliem  away  at  each  appoint- 
ment to  the  best  advantage  he  could. 

At  two  o'clock  I  was  on  my  horse,  which, 
happily  for  me,  had  been  along  the  road  be- 
fore, and  was  siifiering  from  hunger-  as  much 
as  his  rider.     In  six  hours  he  was  standing 

at  the  steps  of  Mi\  S 's  house,  two  miles 

fi'om  the  town  of  F ,  fi'om  which  we  start- 
ed thi'ee  days  before.    I  was  well  acquainted 

with  Mr.  S and  his  family,  haying  been 

frequently  there ;  but  fever  had  dethi'oned 
my  reason,  which  did  not  return  till  I  was 
taken  in  and  my  head  bathed  with  cold  wa- 
ter, and  I  had  di'ank  a  cup  of  coffee. 

It  was  three  days  before  I  was  sufficiently 
recovered  to  resume  my  work.  "We  had  vis- 
ited twenty-seven  families,  talked  and  prayed 
with  them  all,  given  them  books  and  tracts, 
and  held  three  meetings.  One  haK  of  the 
people  were  without  any  part  of  a  Bible.  As 
for  other  books  they  had  none,  and  not  one 
in  ten  could  read  a  word. 

I  have  detailed  this  one  journey  of  three 
days  not  only  to  show  the  condition  of  this 
portion  of  our  country,  but  as  httle  more  than 
a  fair  representation  of  destitute  parts   of 


66  FIVE    YEARS 

many  states  in  the  Union.  If  each  colpor- 
teur of  the  Tract  Society  who  has  visited 
these  dark,  broken,  isolated  regions  of  our 
country  for  the  last  eighteen  years,  had  kept  a 
journal  of  all  the  ignorance  and  wi'etchedness 
he  met,  it  would  have  been  the  most  interesting 
missionary  journal  the  world  ever  saw.  Their 
reports  would  differ  as  widely  as  the  reports 
of  those  whom  Joshua  sent  out  to  visit  the 
promised  land.  While  some  would  bring  in 
the  rich  clusters  of  Eshcol,  others,  with  equal 
trutlifiilness,  could  say  that  the  land  was  in- 
habited by  giants,  whose  walls  were  igno- 
rance and  superstition. 

I  was  often  reminded  in  my  journeys  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  our  country  who  went 
through  the  forests,  tomahawk  in  hand,  blaz- 
ing the  trees  as  a  signal  of  their  intended 
occupancy  of  the  land  at  some  future  time. 
These  visits  were  the  Christian  pioneer's 
way-marks,  not  blazed  on  the  trees  with*  axe 
or  tomahawk,  but  blazed  on  the  hearts  of 
men  in  a  state  of  natui'e  by  kind  Christian 
words,  and  sealed  with  earnest  prayer ;  while 
the  books  and  tracts,  including  many  Bibles 
and  Testaments,  were  deeds  of  trust  to  those 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  6T 

that  faithfully  used  them ;  and  many  by  them 
have  secured  a  title  to  eternal  life. 

The  books  were  like  Jacob's  well — the  dig- 
ger was  gone — but  they  have  quenched  the 
thirst  of  many  a  weary  traveller  on  life's  jour- 
ney, and  their  smoked  pages  are  still  crying, 
"Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,"  come  and 
partake  of  the  waters  of  life  "  without  money 
and  T^ithout  price."  A  poor  woman  who 
had  a  small  tract  given  her,  on  her  death- 
bed had  it  brought  to  her,  when  she  kissed 
it,  and  said,  "This  led  me  to  my  dear  Sav- 
iour." 


N 


68  FIVE   YEARS 


CHAPTEK  YII. 

I  m:sited  an  old  woman,  who  told  me  that 
soon  after  she  was  married  some  one  lent  her 
Doddridge's  Eise  and  Progress  of  Religion 
in  the  Soul,  and  that  it  was  the  means  of  the 
conversion  of  herself  and  her  husband;  that 
he  had  died  happily  some  years  ago,  but  she 
had  never  been  able  to  get  a  copy  of  the  book 
since.  I  then  presented  her  with  one,  and 
she  wept  for  joy.  I  asked  her  if  she  had  a 
Bible;  she  said,  "No;"  that  they  had  a  Bible 
when  her  husband  died,  but  some  time  after 
a  little  school  was  opened  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  she  wanted  her  four  little  boys 
taught  to  read,  but  had  no  books  nor  any 
way  to  get  them,  and  she  had  to  cut  her  Bible 
into  four  parts  to  make  each  of  them  a  book, 
and  they  soon  went  to  pieces,  and  she  lost 
her  Bible.  I  then  gave  her  a  Bible,  and  her 
joy  seemed  complete. 

On  another  occasion  I  sent  a  notice  that  I 
would  be  at  a  little  church  in  a  certain  neigh- 
borhood to  aid  them  in  organizing  a  Sabbath- 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  69 

school,  and  to  supply  the  destitute  with  books. 
After  exhorting  for  some  time,  and  arranging 
for  the  Sabbath-school,  I  distributed  all  m^^ 
stock,  and  was  about  to  leave. 

A  young  woman  came  up  to  me,  haying 
just  reached  the  place,  and  asked  me  for  a 
book.  I  told  her  I  had  given  away  all  that 
I  had  brought  with  me.  She  burst  into  tears, 
and  said,  "  I  left  my  babe,  three  weeks  old, 
in  the  field  where  my  husband  was  hoeing 
corn,  and  walked  five  miles  in  my  bare  feet  to 
get  a  book ;  and  now  I  am  disappointed."  In 
a  few  minutes  an  old  woman  who  had  seen 
seventy  winters  came  to  me  with  a  crutch 
under  one  arm,  and  a  cane  in  the  other  hand, 
and  told  me  she  had  come  two  miles  to  get 
books  for  her  sons,  who  were  raising  large 
families  over  the  mountains,  that  were  as  wild 
as  the  deers.  I  returned  soon,  and  gave  the 
necessary  supply. 

One  day  a  man  entered  my  room  wearing 
a  hunting-shirt  and  moccasins,  -^ith  a  gun  in' 
his  hand  and  a  long  knife  hanging  to  a  belt 
at  his  side,  and  asked  me  if  I  was  the  man 
that  gave  books  to  the  poor  peoj)le  in  the 
mountains.    I  told  him  I  was  engaged  in  that 


70  .  FIVE   YEARS 

business.  "Well,"  said  lie,  "-we  live  in  an 
out  of  tlie  way  place,  where  we  have  neither 
schools  nor  j^reaching ;  and  we  met  together 
last  Sunday  to  see  if  we  could  not  raise  a 
Sunday-school,  and  teach  our  children  to 
read,  but  all  the  books  we  could  find  was  one 
Kew  Testament;   and  some  one  said  there 

was  a  man  in  F that  was  giving  books  to 

the  poor,  and  so  I  have  come  to  see  you  about 
it."  I  gave  him  all  the  Hght  I  could  as  to 
forming  and  conducting  a  Sunday-school,  and 
added  twenty  Testaments,  with  fifty  small 
volumes  of  Tract  Society  books,  and  some 
ti-acts.  He  soon  had  them  all  in  the  bosom 
of  his  hunting  shirt,  and  I  have  seldom  seen 
a  happier  man. 

The  next  Sabbath  the  school  was  started. 
In  six  months  a  church  was  organized,  and 
soon  after  a  little  church  built,  and  a  man  of 
God  was  preaching  to  them  once  each  month. 
That  bosom  full  of  books  was  the  means  God 
blessed  to  this  result. 

On  another  occasion  I  stopped  over  night 
with  a  good  man,  who  related  to  me  the  fol- 
lowing fact. 

"  A  few  years  ago  a  minister  came  to  my 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  71 

house  late  on  Saturday  night  on  his  way  to 

preach  at  L- ,  about  thirty  miles  distant. 

Finding  he  could  not  reach  the  place  in  time 
to  meet  his  appointment,  he  told  me  if  I 
would  gather  in  my  neighbors,  he  would 
preach  for  us.  There  were  but  a  few  families 
in  aU  this  valley,  and  so  far  as  I  knew,  he  was 
the  first  preacher  that  ever  had  beerr  in  it,  at 
least  he  preached  the  first  sermon.  I  sent 
my  boys  out  and  gathered  in  my  neighbors. 
At  the  close  of  his  sermon  he  gave  every  one 
a  tract.  Among  the  rest  he  gave  one  to  a 
poor  widow  with  a  large  family,  but  neither 
she  nor  any  one  of  her  children  knew  a  letter. 
She  took  it  home  vdih  her  without  any  know- 
ledge of  its  contents. 

"The  next  morning  she  returned  and  re- 
quested my  wife  to  read  it  to  her,  which  she 
did.  ^Well,'  said  she,  'it  is  a  nice  thiQg  to 
read;  I  do  wish  I  could  do  it.'  She  took  the 
tract  home,  and  returned  the  next  day  to 
have  it  read  agaia;  and  during  the  reading, 
the  tears  ran  down  her  cheeks,  'Oh,'  said 
she  to  my  wife,  '  do  you  think  I  could  learn 
to  read  ?'  '  Yes,'  she  said  to  her,  '  no  doubt 
you  can.'     So  my  wife  got  a  New  England 


72         -  FIVE    YEARS 

primer  we  liad,  and  went  over  the  letters  a 
few  times  with  her.  She  took  home  both  the 
primer  and  the  tract.  The  next  morning  she 
retnmed  again,  and  while  the  tract  was  read- 
ing, her  face  was  Ht  up  with  joy,  and  peace 
came  into  her  soul.  In  a  few  hours  she  was 
able  to  repeat  the  alphabet.  'And  now,'  said 
she,  *if  you  wiU.  only  learn  me  how  to  put  two 
of  them  together,  and  give  them  a  name,  I 
can  learn  myseK.'  This  was  soon  done ;  and 
as  soon  as  .she  went  home,  she  taught  her 
children  aU  sh^  had  learned.  In  a  few  months 
she  and  her  children. could  read  all  that  was 
in  the  primer.  We  have  now  a  good  church 
here,  anxl  she  and  most  of  her  children  are 
members  of  it.  She  seldom  sees  a  tract  but 
with  tears  of  joy  she  exclaims,  '  If  it  had  not 
been  for  one  of  these  httle  tracts,  I  and  my 
children  might  hare  remained  in  ignorance 
and  sin.' " 

One  of  the  great  difficulties  I  had  to  en- 
counter was  the  large  number  of  famiHes  that 
could  not  read.  These  I  found  every  day. 
"When  I  would  show  my  books  and  urge  them 
to  buy,  the  reply  was,  "  Oh,  none  of  v.s  cant 
read.''    I  soon  saw  the  necessity  of  planning 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  13 

some  means  to  remedy  this  evil,  and  began 
to  establish  httle  Sunday-schools  in  each 
neighborhood.  I  would  hunt  up  the  best 
reader  I  could  find  for  a  teacher,  furnish 
them  with  a  small  hbrary  of  books,  give  them 
the  best  direction  I  could  how  to  conduct  it, 
and  set  them  to  work.  Although  some  of 
these  schools  were  very  superficially  conduct- 
ed, and  in  many  cases  there  was  nothing  done 
in  them  but  teaching  young  and  old  to  read, 
still  they  had  the  effect  of  rousing  the  mind 
to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  and  prepar- 
ing the  way  of  the  Lord.  Many  of  these 
schools  accomplished  great  things,  and  re- 
sulted in  the  estabhshing  of  little  churches. 
Others  seemed  to  fail,  except  so  far  as  they 
woke  in  the  minds  of  some  a  thirst  for  know- 
ledge. 

Some  famihes  I  could  not  prevail  on  to 
take  a  book  as  a  gift,  for  fear  there  was  some 
trick  about  it.  Clock  pedlars  had  been 
through  some  portions  of  the  country  a  while 
before,  sold  the  cheap  clocks  at  thirty  dollars 
apiece,  and  took  notes  for  the  pay,  which 
had  been  collected  in  many  cases  by  dis- 
tress-sales.     They  would  tell  me  how  they 


74  FIVE    YEARS 

had  been  treated,  and  that  they  were  afraid 
I  should  send  some  one  for  the  pay.  I  often 
avoided  this  objection  by  lending  the  book, 
and  writing  on  it,  "  Loaned  till  I  call  for  it." 
Another  great  difficulty  we  had  to  encoun- 
ter with  these  unlettered  masses  was  their 
jDrejudice  against  education.  Almost  every 
day  I  had  to  meet  this  objection :  "  Oh,  I  do  n't 
want  my  children  learned  to  read;  it  will 
spoil  them.  I  have  got  along  very  well  with- 
out reading,  and  so  can  they." 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  75 


CHAPTEE  YIII. 

I  HAD  now  been  about  ten  montlis  in  tlie 
colporteur  work,  and  seeing  the  great  neces- 
sity for  scores  of  men  to  engage  in  it,  I 
thouglit  I  could  raise  the  salaries,  and  employ 
one  or  two  others  to  carry  it  on.  I  soon 
raised  $150  to  pay  a  man  for  a  year,  and 
Providence  directed  me  to  a  good  man  to 
do  the  work.  I  then  succeeded  in  finding 
another  good  man,  and  raising  his  salary; 
and  in  one  month,  by  the  Divine  blessing,  I 
raised  and  paid  over  for  the  support  of  col- 
portage  8750,  and  these  efforts  were  continued 
till  the  colporteur  work  was  extended  through- 
out the  more  destitute  regions  in  all  Western 
Virginia. 

I  had  made  an  arrangement  to  visit  K 

county,  some  forty  miles  distant,  and  spend  a 
month  in  colporteur  labor.  On  my  way  I 
had  to  cross  a  river  by  a  ferry-boat.  Two 
travellers  crossed  with  me.  When  we  mount- 
ed our  horses  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,  one  of ^  them  asked  me  if  I  was  going  on 


76  FIVE    YEARS 

a  long  jouiTiej  with  such  a  heavy  load  on  my 
horse  over  that  mountain  country.  I  told 
him  I  had  my  horse  loaded  with  rehgious 
books,  and  some  Bibles,  and  that  I  was  en- 
gaged in  supplying  destitute  regions  with  the 
word  of  life,  and  would  soon  lighten  my  load. 

"TMiy,"  said  he,  "are  there  any  families 
to  be  found  without  the  Bible  ?"  Yes,  I  told 
him,  there  were  many  in  all  parts  of  our  coun- 
tiy.  "Well,"  said  he,  "I  do  n't  beheve  there  is 
a  family  in  my  county  without  a  Bible."  Said 
I,  "What  part  are  you  fi'om?"  "From  Green 
county,  Penn."  "How  far,"  said  I,  "fi'om 
the  iovm.  of  C ?"     "Five  miles,"  said  he. 

Four  weeks  ago,  I  replied,  I  was  there, 
and  made  an  address  before  one  of  the  Pres- 
byteries of  the  Cumberland  church,  in  which 
I  spoke  of  the  destitutions  of  oiu'  country  and 
oui'  mode  of  supplying  them,  when  the  Rev. 

Mr.  H followed  me  with  a  speech  in  which 

he  said  "  he  beHeved  one  third  of  the  families 

in  C ,  in  which  we  were  then  assembled, 

were  without  the  Bible."  Another  minister 
IDresent  doubted  it.  I  told  them  I  was  there 
to  visit  the  town,  and  would  begin  the  next 
morning.     A  good  man  volunteered  to  go 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  77 

with  me.  "We  spent  three  days  at  the  work, 
and  found  that  out  of  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  families,  ffty-four  had  no  Bible. 

On  mj  way  to  E ,  late  in  the  evening 

I  began  to  inquire  for  some  place  where  I 
could  sj)end  the  night,  as  the  indications 
seemed  to  be  that  a  hard  night's  lodging 
was  before  me.     As  I  inquu-ed  at  each  httle 

cabin,  they  told  me  that  "Parson  W ," 

a  few  miles  ahead,  kept  lodgers.  As  these 
mountain  miles  are  slowly  measured  by  a 
tired  man  and  horse,  I  did  not  reach  "Par- 
son W 's"  till  near  nine  o'clock  at  night. 

"^lien  I  entered  his  little  cabin,  he  and  his 
wife  and  granddaughter  were  at  a  supper  of 
corn-bread  and  buttermilk.  I  asked  for  lodg- 
ing, which  was  granted,  and  was  at  once  in- 
^dted  to  sujDper.  xis  soon  as  the  parson  was 
done  eating,  he  went  and  put  up  mj  horse. 

On  his  return,  I  asked  him  if  he  had  any 
pastoral  charge.  "Yes,"  said  he,  "I  built  a 
church  on  my  own  land  close  by,  and  preach 
there  every  other  Sunday."  We  were  soon 
engaged  in  a  rehgious  conversation,  and  my 
views  of  truth  were  soon  tested.  "Well," 
said  the  old  parson,  "  I  thought  you  was  a 


78  FIVE    YEARS 

Methodist  preacher,  but  I  find  I  was  mista- 
ken ;  but  I  guess  you  are  a  Presbyterian,  which 
is  no  better."  Finding  the  old  man  belonged 
to  what  was  called  the  Ironsides,  or  rigid 
Antinomians,  I  thought  it  quite  useless  to 
talk  to  him. 

Before  I  could  get  rid  of  him  he  made  me 
tell  my  business.  "  Well,"  said  he,  "  you  are 
going  about  plundering  the  country.  It  was 
the  Bible,  Tract,  and  Missionary  Societies 
that  broke  up  the  country  in  1837  and  '38." 

As  I  was  th-ed,  and  jDroposed  to  go  to  bed, 
"Well,"  said  he,  "there  is  a  bed  in  that  cor- 
ner for  you."  "  As  you  are  a  preacher,"  said 
I,  "  of  coui'se  you  have  family  prayer,  and  I 
would  prefer  waiting  to  join  you  in  it."  "Ah," 
said  he,  "  every  one  does  their  own  praying 
here."  "  Is  it  possible,"  said  I,  "  that  you  are 
a  preacher,  and  have  no  family  prayer,  when 
God  has  said  he  will  pour  out  his  fury  on  the 
famihes  that  call  not  on  his  name?"  "  Oh," 
said  he,  "  you  may  pray  if  you  please."  See- 
ing an  old  family  Bible  on  a  sheK,  I  took  it 
down,  and  read  a  part  of  the  seventh  of  Mat- 
thew. I  commented  on  the  verse,  "  Strive  to 
enter  in  at  the  strait  gate,"  etc.    The  moment 


IX   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  79 

prayer  was  over,  lie  said,  "  I  do  n't  believe  a 
word  you  said."  I  was  soon  in  bed  and 
asleep,  being  tired. 

Wlien  I  awoke  there  was  a  good  fire,  and 
tlie  old  man  sitting  beside  it.  I  was  np  in  a 
few  minutes.  "  I  am  glad  you  are  up,"  said 
he,  "  as  there  is  another  point  I  must  discuss 
with  you."  In  a  few  minutes  I  quoted  proofs 
from  the  Bible  too  clear  to  be  resisted ;  when 
the  old  woman,  who  was  of  huge  dimensions, 
sprang  out  of  bed  in  her  night-dress,  and  pre- 
senting herseK  before  me,  said,  "  Do  n't  talk 
to  that  feUow ;  he  is  a  Yankee,  and  he  is  set- 
ting traps  to  catch  you."  The  old  man  soon 
disappeared  to  attend  to  his  still-house  and 
cattle,  and  the  old  woman  and  granddaughter 
occupied  the  whole  front  of  the  fire,  making 
their  toilets ;  the  old  lady,  in  her  earnest  con- 
versation, frequently  using  a  long  wooden  fire- 
poker  in  close  proximity  to  my  head. 

As  the  granddaughter  was  sitting  near  me, 
completing  her  toilet,  I  spoke  to  her  about 
her  soul,  and  oftered  her  the  Dairyman's 
Daughter.  This  roused  the  old  woman  again ; 
and  the  old  man,  returning  about  the  same 
time,  forbade  her  to  touch  the  book.     The 


80  FIVE    YEARS 

giii  cried  bitterly,  and  said  it  was  such  a 
pretty  book  she  did  want  it,  and  there  was 
not  a  book  except  the  old  Bible  in  the  house. 
The  giiTs  tears  prevailed,  provided  I  would 
write  a  receipt  in  it  that  it  was  paid  for,  which 
was  done. 

As  soon  as  breakfast  was  over,  and  my 
horse  ready,  I  asked  for  my  bill.  "  One  dol- 
lar,'' said  the  old  man;  "I  make  it  a  rule, 
when  any  of  you  Yankees  come  this  way,  to 
fleece  you  as  well  as  I  can."  This  man  was 
rich ;  had  a  great  distillery,  and  I  was  credi- 
bly informed  would  take  a  bottle  of  whiskey 
with  him  to  the  church,  and  at  the  close  of  his 
services  tell  liis  people  what  a  fine  run  of  whis- 
key he  had  just  had,  and  to  come  and  taste  it. 

About  a  month  after,  on  my  return  home, 
I  stopped  to  stay  all  night  some  few  miles 

from  there,  when  lo.  Parson  W had  stop* 

ped  to  stay  too  ;  but  as  soon  as  he  saw  me,  he 
ordered  his  horse,  and  left.  I  had  told  about 
my  lodging  T\-ith  him  ;  and  as  the  laws  of  Yii'- 
ginia  at  that  time  imposed  a  fine  of  twenty  dol- 
lars on  any  one  who  had  no  license  charging 
for  lodging,  some  one  had  told  the  old  man 
that  I  was  going  to  bring  him  before  the  court. 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  81 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

About  this  time  an  incident  of  peculiar  in- 
terest took  place.     The  Eev.  ]Mi\  Q had 

invited  me  to  visit  the  town  of  C ,  and  I 

had  set  a  day  to  be  at  his  house.  Late  in  the 
evening  of  the  day  appointed,  I  arrived  in  the 
town ;  and  while  driving  along  the  street, 
looking  for  his  house,  I  saw  him  standing  on 
his  portico,  beckoning  me  to  him. 

As  soon  as  I  had  alighted  fi'om  my  buggy, 
he  gave  me  a  cordial  shake  of  the  hand,  and 
said,  "  You  have  come  just  in  time  to  see  and 
hear  one  of  the  gTeatest  dignitaries  in  the 
state  of  Yirginia."  I  observed  that  I  was 
perhaps  a  httle  different  from  many  others ; 
that  I  would  not  go  a  square  to  see  a  great 
man,  unless  he  was  a  great  good  man.  "  Well," 
said  he,  "he  ought  to  be  a  good  man;  he's 
the  bishop  of  the  Eoman-cathohc  church  for 
this  state ;  and  as  he  is  the  first  Hve  bishop 
of  the  Holy  Catholic  church  who  has  ever  been 
here,  he  is  attracting  a  great  deal  of  attention. 
He  preached  in  the  court-house  this  morning, 

Five  Years.  g 


82  FIVE   YEARS 

and  it  was  crowded ;  and  lie  is  going  to  preacli 
here  for  several  days  and  nights.  He  has  one 
or  two  priests  with  him,  and  they  have  corae 
to  plant  a  church  here.  "Will  you  go  and  hear 
liini?"  "Yes,"  said  I ;  ''if  you  go,  I  will  go 
with  you." 

As  soon  as  tea  was  over,  we  went  to  the 
court-house,  and  it  was  crowded.  In  a  Httle 
time  the  bishop  arose,  and  without  any  intro- 
ductory services,  gave  out  his  text:  "Thou 
art  Peter,  and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my 
church ;  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail 
against  it."  He  went  on  to  define  "  the  gates 
of  hell"  as  the  various  Protestant  sects,  and 
wound  up  by  trpng  to  prove  that  Peter  was 
the  first  pope,  and  got  the  keys,  and  that  the 
successors  of  Peter  still  held  the  keys,  and  no 
one  could  enter  heaven  Tsithout  going  through 
the  Cathohc  church.  His  sermon  was  deliv- 
ered with  earnestness  and  eloquence,  and 
made  a  deep  impression,  as  very  few  of  all 
present  were  well  informed  on  those  matters. 

He  made  much  for  his  cause  out  of  the  de- 
nominational strifes  with  which  that  region 
had  been  afflicted,  and  I  heard  many  say 
"Amen"  to  some  of  his  thrusts*.     He  an- 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  83 

noTinced  that  lie  would  preacli  the  next  morn- 
^  ing  from  the  text,  "  Search  the  scriptm-es,  for 
in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life,  and  they 
are  they  which  testify  of  me." 

We  returned  to  brother  Q 's,  and  sat  to 

a  late  hoiu'  consulting  what  we  had  better  do. 
Here  was  a  man  of  Jesuitical  cunning,  mis- 
representing Protestantism  before  a  commu- 
nity ill  quahfied  to  form  correct  opinions.     I 

urged  Mr.  Q to  contradict  some  of  his 

false  statements ;  and  after  praying  over  the 
matter,  we  retired. 

The  next  morning,  at  the  appointed  hour, 
the  house  was  crowded,  though  there  were 
not  one  dozen  Eoman-cathohcs  in  the  com- 
munity.    O^ing  to  the  crowd,  Mr.  Q and 

I  got  separated.  I  lost  sight  of  him,  and  for 
want  of  a  seat  elsewhere,  got  up  into  a  win- 
dow. In  a  httle  while  the  bishop  announced 
the  text,  "Search  the  scriptures,"  and  also 
announced  that  he  would  preach  at  night  from 
the  text,  "These  were  more  noble  than  those 
in  Thessalonica,  in  that  they  searched  the 
scriptures  daily." 

The  ground  taken  in  this  sermon  was,  that 
searching  the  scriptures  by  the  common  peo- 


84  FIVE    YEAES 

pie  had  led  to  all  the  reKgious  heresies  in  the 
^'orld,  and  had  raised  up  more  sects  than 
there  were  chapters  in  the  Bible.  That  there 
was  but  one  tnie  chui'ch,  and  out  of  all  only 
one  could  be  right.  That  Protestants  called 
Luther  a  gTeat  reformer,  and  he  was  told 
there  were  no  Lutherans  in  that  town ;  con- 
sequently, if  Luther  was  right  they  were  all 
wi'ong;  and  if  they  were  right,  Luther  was 
wrong,  and  could  not  be  a  great  reformer. 

He  said  the  Catholic  church  could  not  be 
^Tong ;  that  she  was  infallible  ;  she  was  "  the 
pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth."  He  pictured 
the  quarrels  among  Protestants  in  the  most 
hideous  manner,  and  described  a  heaven  full 
of  such  uncongenial  characters,  till  the  pic- 
ture was  ridiculous;  and  I  saw  that  many 
present  were  dehghted  with  it. 

At  the  close  of  his  sermon,  or  tirade  against 
the  Protestant  rehgion,  he  sat  down.  I  rose 
up  in  the  window,  much  excited,  to  see  if  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Q would  not  call  him  to  an  ac- 
count, when  I  was  much  gratified  to  see  the 

meek  and  gentle  form  of  Mr.  Q slowly 

rising  about  the  middle  of  the  house.  Said 
he: 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  85 

"Bishop,  you  said  in  your  sermon  last 
night  that  there  were  now  two  hundred  mill- 
ions of  faithful  Catholic  childi'en  in  the  world, 
against  which  the  gates  of  hell  could  not  pre- 
vail. Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  teU  us 
where  they  are  ?" 

The  bishop  rose  with  a  haK-courteous  and 
haK-disdainful  smile,  and  said,  "You  need 
not  ask  me  such  a  question  as  that;  the  re- 
gions they  occupy  are  all  marked  on  your 
own  Protestant  geographies  ;  your  little  boys 
in  the  streets  can  point  you  to  them,  where 
they  have  been  marked  in  black  lines,"  and 
took  his  seat. 

"WeU,"  said  Mr.  Q ,  "I  would  prefer  ^ 

you  would  name  the  countries  to  which  they 
belong." 

He  rose  again  with  a  most  indignant  frown. 
Said  he,  "  I  suppose  it  would  be  rather  hum- 
bling to  one  who  calls  himself  a  preacher  to 
go  to  the  Kttle  boys  for  information,  so  I  will 
name  some,  at  least,  of  the  countries  that  are 
Cathohc :  France,  Austria,  most  of  Germany, 
Hungary,  and  Poland ;  and  we  shall  soon  have 
England,  as  part  of  the  church  there  is  only 
separated  from  us  now  by  name;  and  Spain 


86  FIVE   YEARS 

and  Mexico  are  ours  entirely;"  and  he  took 
his  seat  again. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Q ,  "  do  you  think  we 

should  gain  any  thing  as  a  nation  by  chang- 
ing our  Protestant  religion  for  that  of  Mexico 
and  Spain?"  and  he  took  his  seat. 

The  bishop  arose  still  more  indignant  in 
manner,  and  said,  "I  really  cannot  under- 
stand what  you  mean,  sk,  unless  you  refer  to 
your  boasted  liberties  in  this  country  ;  but  if 
that  is  what  you  mean,  sir,  I  can  tell  you  I 
would  rather  go  to  heaven  fi'om  Mexico  or 
Spain,  than  to  hell  from  the  midst  of  all  your 
boasted  liberties." 

By  this  time  the  audience  had  become  in- 
tensely interested.  Said  I,*'  Mr.  Bishop,  I  want 
to  ask  you  a  few  questions  by  way  of  gaining 
information.  If  I  understood  3'ou  right  last 
night,  you  said  your  chiu'ch  was  infalhble ; 
that  it  never  had  erred,  and  never  could  err." 

He  replied  very  indignantly,  "I  said,  su', 
that  the  Cathohc  chui'ch  never  had  erred, 
and  never  could  err." 

"Well,  sir,"  said  I,  "it  was  once  right  to 
put  Protestants  to  death  for  their  religion, 
and  of  course  it  is  still  right." 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  87 

He  replied,  "That  is  a  Protestant  false- 
hood, sii-;  the  church  never  put  any  one  to 
death." 

Said  I,  "  Sir,  I  can  prove  what  I  say  by 
the  faithful  records  of  history." 

"Protestant  authority — we  could  not  ad- 
mit such  testimony,  sir." 

"Well,"  said  I,  "whether  you  admit  it  or 
not,  the  blood  of  mart}T:ed  milhons  is  cry- 
ing for  vengeance,  and  the  day  of  divine  rec- 
ompense will  erelong  come." 

After   a   number   of  questions  from   Mr. 

Q and  myself  of  similar  import,  Mr. 

Q said,  "The  general  opinion  is  that 

General  "Washington  and  General  Jackson 
died  good  men  and  went  to  heaven.  '\Miat 
is  your  opinion,  bishop  ?" 

He  replied  contemptuously,  "Why,  sir,  we 
don't  pretend  to  know  whether  they  are  in 
heaven  or  not;  those  are  the  secret  things 
that  belong  to  God." 

"Stop,  bishop,"  said  I,  "you  said  last 
night  that  you  held  the  keys  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  in  your  church,  and  that  to  you  it 
was  given  to  open  and  shut  the  door ;  and  I 
now  demand  of  you  as  one  of  these  door- 


88  FIVE   YEARS 

keepers,  to  tell  us  wlietlier  jou  have  let  in 
the  immortal  Wasliington  or  not." 

In  a  few  moments  the  call  was  coming  from 
every  part  of  the  house,  "  Tell  ns  whether  you 
have  let  "W^ashington  into  heaven  or  not." 

The  bishop  tore  his  sui'pKce  off  in  a  rage, 
and  put  out  of  the  house  with  one  or  two 
priests  after  him — the  crowd  following  him, 
and  calling  out,  "  Come  back  and  answer  the 
question  about  our  beloved  Washington." 
But  he  Avent  on,  ordered  his  horse,  pro- 
nounced a  curse  on  the  place,  closed  his 
meetings,  and  left  the  town.  The  excitement 
of  the  crowd  was  most  intense. 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  89 


CHAPTEE   X. 

I  HAD  now  been  in  my  second  year  of  la- 
bor for  some  months,  during  wliicli  I  had 
made  some  long  journeys,  and  seen  some 
hard  seryice. 

I  made  an  arrangement  with  Mr.  M ,  a 

Yery  intelligent  gentleman  whom  I  had  em- 
ployed a  few  months  before  as  a  colporteur, 
to  accompany  me.  The  whole  tour  required 
us  to  travel  near  four  hundred  miles.  More 
than  two  thirds  of  the  way  the  country  was 
wild  and  romantic,  the  population  sparse  and 
rude.     Few  thought  rt  safe  to  go  unarmed. 

On  the  day  set  I  met  Mr.  M at  C , 

where  he  resided.  To  my  surprise  he  had 
provided  a  pistol  for  each  of  us.  With  some 
persuasion  I  took  one,  but  soon  got  it  to  the 
bottom  of  my  saddle-bags. 

The  first  day  we  reached  W ,  where  we 

found  a  young  preacher  who  had  been  wait- 
ing there  some  days  for  an  escort  over  the 
same  route,  fearing  to  travel  the  road  alone. 
We  all  started  in  company  early  the  next 


90  FIVE    YEARS 

morning,  with  tlie  understanding  that  we  had 

to  reach  G ,  a  new  county-toTSTi  thii-ty 

miles  distant,  or  lodge  in  the  woods.  Noth- 
ing special  occurred  that  day,  except  that  an 
enormous  rattlesnake  crossed  the  road  before 
us  and  fiightened  our  horses.  We  called 
at  the  door  of  all  the  cabins  we  saw,  and 
]Dreached  Christ  to  the  people,  and  gave  them 
books.  We  reached  G late  in  the  even- 
ing, and  found  a  pious  lawyer  who  had.just 
moved  there,  and  owned  the  only  Bible  in 
the  place.  There  were  not  a  dozen  famihes 
in  it.  By  breakfast-time  the  next  morning 
we  had  supphed  him  with  a  neat  Sunday- 
school  library,  which  he  used  to  gi'eat  advan- 
tage. 

We  were  told  we  must  ride  thii-ty-five  miles 
the  next  day,  over  mountain  paths,  to  reach 
a  place  of  lodging — that  there  was  one  house 
at  thii'ty  miles,  but  by  all  means  to  avoid 
that  house.  The  reasons  I  cannot  give ;  nor 
an  account  of  the  dinner  we  tried  to  eat  that 
day. 

As  the  weather  was  excessively  hot,  we  left 
G by  six  in  the  morning.  We  soon  over- 
took a  young  man  who  was  going  some  miles 


IN   THEg|LLEGH?^IES.  91 

our  way,  and  agreed  to  be  our  guide  as  far 
as  we  went  together.  We  found  liini  totally 
ignorant  of  sin,  or  a  futiu'e  state.  He  did 
not  know  whether  he  had  ever  seen  a  Bible 
or  not.  Though  he  had  heard  men  preach, 
and  seen  them  with  a  book  in  their  hand,  he 
could  not  tell  what  book  it  was.  He  told  us 
his  father  was  a  county  surveyor,  and,  he 
thought,  a  member  of  the  chuix-h.  I  gaye 
him  a  Testament  and  some  tracts,  which  he 
looked  at  with  amazement. 

About  ten  o'clock  we  came  to  a  number  of 
men  at  work  cutting  timber  out  of  the  road, 
that  had  been  blown  down  by  a  storm.  On 
inquiry,  we  found  eleven  families  represented, 
only  one  of  which  had  a  Bible.  One  or  two 
others  had  lost  their  Bibles  by  having  their 
cabins  burnt.  'We  suppHed  all  with  books, 
and  left  one  or  two  reading  for  all  the  rest. 

The  want  of  dinner  and  the  excessive  heat 
of  the  sun  brought  on,  me  sick  headache, 
and  by  four  or  five  o'clock  I  could  scarcely 
sit  on  my  horse.  I  told  my  companions  it 
would  be  impossible  for  me  to  reach  the 
house  we  were  dii^ected  to,  and  let  the  con- 
sequence be  what  it  would,  I  should  be  com- 


92  SiVE  l^^^s 

pellecl  either  to  lie  out,  or  lodge  in  the  vile 
den  of  which  we  had  been  warned.  The 
brethren  seemed  much  alarmed,  but  said 
they  would  not  leave  me.  Several  times  I 
had  to  alight,  to  prevent  falling  fi'om  my 
horse.  Being  thus  detained,  we  only  reached 
this  dreaded  place  about  sunset. 

There  was  a  very  large  grazing  farm,  and 
a  large  double  log-cabin  about  the  centre, 
with  every  appearance  of  plenty.  As  we  drew 
near  the  house  we  saw  quite  a  number  of  men 
at  work  haying  in  a  large  meadow.  Every 
one  seemed  to  be  drunk.  Such  swearing  and 
hallooing  I  had  never  heard.  Our  prospects 
looked  gloomy. 

AYe  rode  up  to  the  door,  and  found  the 
landlord  under  the  same  influence  as  those 
in  the  field.  When  we  asked  for  lodging  he 
seemed  glad  to  have  customers,  and  soon 
had  our  horses  cared  for. 

In  a  little  time  all  the  drunken  rabble  on 
the  i^lace  were  gathered  to  the  house,  but 
such  a  set  of  men  I  have  never  seen  before 
or  since.  Supper  was  soon  ready,  and  aU 
invited  in.  The  food  was  very  rough,  but 
abundant.     I  was  too  sick  to  partake  of  it.  .. 


IN   THE  ALLEGHANlES.  93 

After  supper  I  told  tlie  landlord  tliat  I  was 
very  sick,  and  must  go  to  bed;  but  as  we 
were  all  reKgious  men,  and  accustomed  to 
pray  in  our  families  niglit  and  morning,,  if  lie 
was  willing,  we  would  have  prayers.  The 
very  announcement  produced  silence  in  a 
moment,  as  if  some  strange  tiling  was  about 
to  happen.  I  requested  liim  to  bring  all  into 
the  house  that  would  come,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes the  house  was  well  filled.  I  called  on 
one  of  the  brethren  to  read  and  pray;  and 
soon  after  I  was  in  bed,  imconscious  of  all 
around  me  till  morning,  when  I  awoke  as  well 
as  usual. 

As  soon  as  we  were  dressed  I  called  on  the 
old  man  to  get  our  horses.  "  Oh  no,  you 
must  stay  for  breakfast,  and  pray  again," 
said  he.  "Well,"  said  I,  "if  you  will  bring 
all  in  to  prayers  now,  we  will  attend  to  wor- 
ship with  pleasure."  In  a  httle  time  the  whole 
household  was  present.  I  read  a  portion  of 
Scripture,  and  made  the  most  earnest  exhor- 
tation I  could  possibly  do,  and  prayed.  A 
more  solemn  audience  I  never  addi-essed. 

As  soon  as  breakfast  was  over,  our  horses 
were  ready,  when  I  asked  the  old  man  for 


94  FIVE    YEAES 

our  bill.  "Not  one  cent,  sir,"  said  lie;  "you 
have  'proyed  xJlenty  to  pay  for  eyery  thing  you 
got.  Eyerj  time  jou  come  this  way  stop  and 
get  all  JOU  want,  and  pray,  and  it  sha'n't  cost 
you  a  cent."  We  suj^pKed  all  present  with  a 
book  or  tract,  and  left  well  pleased  on  the 
whole  with  our  yisit. 

Dimng  the  day  we  called  at  all  the  cabins 
on  our  way.  At  one  I  found  a  man  who  told 
me  he  was  seventy  years  old,  had  seldom 
heard  a  sermon,  but  that  he  had  felt  much 
concern  about  where  he  would  be  in  the  next 
world,  if  there  teas  one.  He  said  he  never 
had  a  Bible,  but  would  like  to  get  one  very 
much.  I  gave  him  a  Testament  and  ti-acts. 
He  seemed  very  thankful,  and  listened  with 
gi'eat  attention  to  all  I  had  time  to  say. 

At  another  house  the  woman  told  me  they 
had  a  Bible,  and  plenty  of  rehgious  books. 
I  asked  to  see  what  kind  of  books  they  were. 
^Tien  she  presented  the  stock,  it  consisted  of 
an  old  copy  of  the  history  of  George  Wash- 
ington. She  beheved  it  to  be  a  Bible,  as  no 
one  about  the  house  knew  a  letter. 

The  same  day  we  met  a  very  aged  man 
riding  on  a  poor  little  pony,  "wath  a  small 


# 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  95 

bag  of  meal  under  him.  I  lianded  him  some 
tracts,  for  which  he  was  yerj  thaiLkfal,  Tvhen 
the  following  dialogue  occuiTed. 

"  Have  you  any  preaching  in  this  moun- 
tain country?"  "Sometimes  we  have."  "Are 
you  a  professor  of  rehgion  ?"  "  Yes,  I  have 
been  a  member  of  the  church  forty  years." 
" How  are  you  suppHed  with  reUgious  books?" 
""Well,  we  havent  got  none  but  two  or  three 
spelling-books  that  I  sent  for  many  years  ago 
to  teach  my  children  how  to  read."  "  Have 
you  no  Bible  in  yoiu'  house  ?"  "  No,  I  never 
had  one.  I  have  been  trying  to  get  a  Testa- 
ment for  some  time  at  the  store ;  but  it  costs 
seyenty-fiye  cents,  and  I  am  not  able  to  raise 
the  money."  This  was  the  regular  price  of  a 
small  Testament  in  that  region  at  that  time, 
and  seldom  to  be  got  even  at  that  price. 

Said  I,  "Is  it  not  hard  to  hve  the  hfe  of  a 
Christian  without  the  Bible  ?" 

"Yes,"  said  he,  "but  I  can't  help  it;  for 
even  if  I  was  able  to  buy  one,  it  could  not  be 

got  nearer  than  C ,  which  is  forty  miles 

distant.  I  never  expect  to  be  rich  enough  to 
buy  a  whole  Bible." 

My  soul  was  stirred  withiQ  me,  and  I  drew 


96  FIVE   YEARS 

out  my  pocket  Bible,  a  fine  copy  Tvliicli  I  liad 
received  as  a  present,  and  gave  it  to  him. 
He  looked  for  a  moment  at  me  with  sui'- 
prise,  when  the  tears  gushed  from  his  eyes, 
and  he  exclaimed,  "  I  am  now  rich  and  hap- 
py." This  man  was  seYenty-five  years  old, 
and  trembling  on  the  brink  of  the  grave. 
This  is  a  true  pictui-e  of  many  cases  found 
by  colporteurs.  I  never  felt  so  well  paid  or 
so  happy  as  when  I  gave  that  man  my  only 
Bible. 

During  this  whole  tour  of  five  weeks'  travel, 
many  a  scene  similar  to  those  described  oc- 
curred; while,  on  the  other  hand,  I  visited 
villages  and  towns  where  I  found  fine 
chui'ches  and  able  ministers,  with  highly  cul- 
tivated pious  congregations.  In  this  toui*  I 
raised  over  $500  in  donations,  and  employed 
three  excellent  colporteurs,  one  of  whom  la- 
bored nme  years.  I  met  the  most  cordial 
cooperation  fi"om  Christians  and  philanthro- 
pists everywhere  I  went.  All  said,  "  This  is 
just  what  we  need  in  this  sparsely  populated 
mountain  country." 


IN   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  97 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"While  on  this  tour  I  visited  the  town  of 

L ,  near  the  centre  of  Western  Virginia, 

and  made  arrangements  to  remove  there  in  a 
few  weeks.  There  are  few  towns  of  the  size 
which  I  have  ever  visited  where  I  have  met 
with  a  more  noble  people.  There  was  wealth, 
intelligence,  and  the  highest  degree  of  refine- 
ment. This  town  became  the  centre  of  mj 
operations  for  three  years. 

The  distance  we  had  to  go  in  moving  there 
was  about  one  hundi'ed  and  fifty  miles,  up 
and  do^TL  mountains  most  of  the  way,  with 
scarce  any  thing  like  a  road  in  many  places : 
a  family  of  five,  two  of  them  children,  in  a 
one-horse  carriage,  with  the  necessary  equi- 
page for  such  a  journey. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  thii'd  day  we  began 
to  ascend  the  Cheat  mountain,  which  required 
nine  miles  travelling  to  reach  its  summit,  and 
eight  miles  down  the  other  side  to  its  base, 
with  only  one  house  all  the  way,  and  that  on 
the  top.  of  the  mountain,  called  at  that  time 


98  FIVE    YEARS 

"  the  mountain  house  of  entertainment."  It 
was  a  large  rude  log-liouse,  T\-itliout  comfort. 
By  the  time  we  reached  the  top  of  it  I  foimd 
my  horse  very  much  fatigued,  and  the  sun 
about  setting.  We  conchided  we  could  not  de- 
scend the  mountain  that  night  -vNdth  safety,  as 
there  was  no  moon,  and  the  whole  way  was 
through  a  dense  pine  forest. 

"When  we  came  to  this  house  on  the  veiy 
top  of  the  moimtain,  we  found  a  number  of 
covered  wagons  that  belonged  to  families 
moving  westward,  and  a  crowd  of  people 
of  all  colors  about  the  house.  I  asked  for 
lodging.  "Yes,"  said  the  landlord,  "lodg- 
ing plenty  !"  My  family  went  into  the  house, 
and  I  went  to  see  my  horse  taken  care  of. 
On  my  return  I  found  them  without  any  place 
to  sit  down.  After  looking  thi'ough  the  house, 
and  finding  but  two  or  three  apartments,  and 
such  a  crowd  of  people,  I  asked  the  landlord 
how  he  would  lodge  us  all.  "  Oh,"  said  he, 
"  you  can  lie  do^ii  a  few  at  a  time,  and  soon 
as  you  get  asleep  I  can  stand  you  up  against 
the  wall." 

Though  it  was  in  September,  and  very 
warm  in  the  valleys,  3^et  it  was  cold  on  the 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  99 

top  of  tliis  moimtain,  and  we  were  all  sliiver- 
ing.  I  asked  the  landlord,  who  by  this  time 
was  playing  the  violin  for  our  entertainment, 
to  make  us  a  httle  fire.  But  there  was  nei- 
ther wood  nor  supper.  The  females  were 
stowed  away  in  one  room  for  the  night,  and 
the  rest  lay  on  the  floor  or  sat  by  turns  till 
the  morning  came. 

As  we  had  no  toilet  to  make  in  the  morn- 
ing, we  were  on  the  way  down  the  mountain 
at  an  early  hour.  The  first  house  we  reached 
was  a  log-house,  where  they  kept  entertain- 
ment. All  was  neat  and  clean.  We  called 
for  breakfast ;  and  while  it  was  preparing,  we 
had  our  morning  devotions,  which  had  been 
noticed  by  the  landlady.  When  we  came  to 
our  excellent  breakfast,  she  asked  me  to  chris- 
ten her  childi-en,  of  which  she  had  quite  a 
number.  I  told  her  I  was  not  a  preacher, 
and  had  no  authority  to  administer  ordi- 
nances. She  insisted  most  earnestly  that  I 
must  do  it ;  that  no  one  had  ever  prayed  there 
before,  and  she  did  not  see  any  reason  why 
any  praying  man  could  not  christen  children ; 
that  they  had  been  Hving  there  for  years,  and 
never  heard  a  sermon  or  seen  a  preacher  as 


100  FIVE    YEARS 

thej  knew  of;  and  if  I  would  only  do  it,  they 
would  not  cliarge  ine  one  cent  for  breakfast. 
After  preaching  them  the  best  sermon  I  could, 
and  gi^'ing  a  good  supply  of  little  books,  we 
went  on  our  way.      In  two  more   days  we 

reached  L ,  our  place  of  destination,  in 

safety,  and  in  a  few  hours  had  a  house  rented 
and  were  h^ing  in  it. 

For  three  years  I  travelled  almost  con- 
stantly; sometimes  in  a  buggy,  but  mostly 
on  horseback,  making  from  six  to  eight  thou- 
sand miles  each  year,  distributing  tracts  and 
books  in  cabins  and  mansions,  collecting 
money,  and  emplojing  men,  till  I  had  the  co- 
operation of  over  fifty  colporteurs.  The  many 
interesting  facts  and  incidents  which  occuiTed 
during  these  years  would  fill  a  large  volume. 
A  very  few  of  them  I  shall  attempt  to  relate. 

A  Mr.  W ,  whom  we  had  employed  for 

some  years,  a  man  of  much  more  than  ordi- 
nary piety  and  qualifications  for  the  work, 
while  \dsiting  in  the  mountains,  came  to  a 
poor  cabin  occupied  by  a  man,  his  wife,  and 
an  only  son.  They  were  very  poor.  The 
father  made  his  living  by  grubbing,  and  took 


IX    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  101 

the  boy  "with  liim  to  pick  tlie  briisli,  he  being 
at  this  time  about  sixteen  years  old.  They 
carried  home  their  wages  on  their  backs, 
mostly  in  some  kind  of  food.  The  mother 
made  what  she  earned  by  her  spinning- 
wheel;  and  while  at  that,  had  taught  her 
son  to  read  the  Testament,  though  she  was 

not  rehgious.     IVlr.  W ,  after  talking  and 

praying  with  them,  gave  this  boy  a  copy  of 
Baxter's  Call,  which  was  the  means  of  his 
conversion.  Before  he  could  join  the  church, 
the  neighbors  aided  in  getting  him  a  suit  of 
clothes. 

He  immediately  set  about  to  improve  him- 
self in  every  possible  way.  There  was  no 
school  near ;  and  if  there  had  been,  he  had 
no  means  to  go.  His  fii'st  efforts  in  learning 
to  write  were,  by  copying  the  letters  out  of  a 
book  with  his  finger  in  the  snow.  He  bor- 
rowed and  read  all  the  books  he  could  get, 
and  attended  a  little  church  where  there  was 
preaching  once  each  month. 

About  two  years  afterwards  I  received  a 
letter  by  some  private  way  from  this  same 

boy,  D.  W.  S .     On  opening  it,  I  made 

out  its  contents  with  some  difficulty.     It  was 


102  FIVE    YEARS 

an  application  to  become  a  colporteur.  In 
the  letter  lie  referred  me  to  tlie  Eev.  Mr. 

B ,  who  lived  in  town.     I  went  to  him, 

showed  him  the  letter,  and  asked  him  if  he 
knew  the  T\Titer.     He  laughed:   "Yes,  very 

well ;  I  received  him  into  the  church.     D 

is  a  good  boy,  but  he  is  ^^ithout  education, 
and  knows  nothing  of  the  world ;  he  has  never 
been  ten  miles  fit'om  home  in  his  Hfe." 

I  wrote  the  young  man  a  kind  letter,  say- 
ing I  hoped  he  would  make  a  colporteui'  some 
da}",  and  advised  him  to  go  to  school  a  while. 

The  next  thing  I  heard  fi-om  him  was  a  rap 
at  my  door.  When  I  opened  the  door,  an 
awkward-looldng  youth  near  six  feet  high 
stood  before  me,  ^dth  the  same  suit  of  clothes 
on  him  he  had  got  over  two  years  before. 
The  pants  were  several  inches  too  short,  and 
the  coat-sleeves  as  deficient ;  indeed,  the  coat 
was  httle  more  than  a  big  patch  on  his  back. 
Said  he,  "I  am  the  felloiv  that  ^^Tote  you  a 
letter  about  wanting  to  colporf,  and  I  have 
come  to  see  about  it."  I  invited  him  into  the 
house.  He  was  all  in  a  tremor  of  excitement. 
When  I  opened  the  parlor  door  he  look-ed  in 
with  amazement,  and  in  walking  to  a  seat 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  103 

avoided  stepping  on  the  white  spots  in  the 
carpet,  which  was  the  fii'st  one  he  ever  saw. 
He  was  so  embaiTassed  he  could  scarcely 
speak. 

After  talking  a  little  while  about  crops,  etc., 
he  became  composed.  He  then  told  me  his 
desires  to  do  good,  and  all  about  his  conver- 
sion, which  was  entirely  satisfactory.  As  it 
was  late  in  the  evening,  I  invited  him  to  stay 
for  the  night ;  and  by  the  time  we  got  his 
poor  old  pony  of  a  horse,  not  worth  five  dol- 
lars, put  away,  tea  was  ready.  When  he  sat 
down  he  looked  confused.  I  had  much  con- 
versation with  him  that  evening.  At  length 
I  invited  him  up  stairs  to  bed.  On  the  way 
up  he  held  by  the  raihng  to  avoid  treading 
on  the  narrow  carpet  in  the  centre. 

In  the  morning  he  was  up  whistling  psalm 
tunes  bright  and  early.  As  soon  as  I  was 
dressed  I  called  him  and  told  him  I  had  re- 
flected over  the  matter  very  carefully,  and 
had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  his  want  of 
education  and  knowledge  of  the  world  would 
not  justify  me  in  employing  him. 

I  saw  his  countenance  change  in  a  moment 
and  the  tears  start  in  his  eyes.     "  Oh,"  said 


104  FIVE   YEAES 

he,  "  I  do  want  you  to  give  me  icorl%  for  I 
do  feel  that  all  I  tcant  to  live  for  is  to  icork  for 
Christ:' 

I  cannot  describe  my  feelings  as  lie  uttered 
these  words.  Here  was  a  depth  of  devotion 
beyond  any  thing  I  had  met.  After  some 
minutes'  silence  I  said  to  him,  "  There  is  a 
region  of  country  on  the  head-waters  of  the 
Elk  river  where  there  never  has  been  any 
preaching;  if  you  will  go  there  a  month  with- 
out any  commission,  I  will  see  you  are  paid." 

His  countenance  was  changed  in  a  moment, 
and  ht  up  T\ith  joy.  In  less  than  two  hours 
I  had  a  pair  of  colporteur's  saddle-bags  filled 
with  books  and  tracts,  and  he  was  on  his 
journey  to  that  destitute  region,  some  forty 
miles  distant.  Soon  after,  some  stock  raisers 
who  had  been  in  that  region  buying  cattle, 
told  me  they  heard  that  the  Tract  Society 
had  a  great  man  out  there;  that  the  people 
were  wonderfully  j^leased  with  him;  that  he 
was  giving  them  books,  and  teaching  them  to 
read  them. 

At  the  end  of  the  month  he  returned,  all 
his  stock  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
people,  and  he  gave  me  a  glowing  account  of 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  105 

the  people's  wants  and  his  success.  He  said 
it  would  take  anotlier  month  to  get  over  that 
region,  and  he  wanted  to  go  "back.  After 
aiding  him  to  dispense  with  his  boy  clothes,  I 
started  him  with  another  load  of  books,  cau- 
tioning him  to  avoid  showing  off  his  new  suit 
as  much  as  possible. 

Another  month's  work  was  done  with  gTeat 
success,  when  he  returned  almost  a  new  boy 
in  his  whole  appearance.  He  had  gained 
confidence  by  being  constantly  among  people 
that  did  not  know  as  much  as  he  did. 

I  then  had  him  commissioned  for  P 

county,  a  very  mountainous^  region,  and  very 
destitute  of  the  means  of  moral  improyement. 
In  a  few  months  he  had  visited  every  family 
in  the  county.  In  many  families  the  bare 
mention  of  his  name  wiU  start  tears  in  the 
eyes  of  the  people,  and  the  tracts  that  he  dis- 
tributed have  been  sewed  togethei?  and  cov- 
ered with  deerskin  as  remembrances  of  the 
man  that  left  them. 

Often  through  the  day  when  he  would 
come  in  sight  of  a  cabin,  he  would  aHght 
from  his  horse  and  kneel  in  the  woods  and 
plead  with  God  for  success  in  his  visit. 


106  FIVE    YEARS 

He  next  'vdsited  the  comities  of  M and 

E ,  two  large  counties,  Tvith  remarkable 

success.  Bj  this  time  he  became  a  fine-look- 
ing young  man,  and  by  his  constant  applica- 
tion to  reading  the  books  as  he  rode  along, 
he  had  become  an  intelligent,  spuitual  Chris- 
tian. 

We  then  sent  him  to  the  large  county  of 

P ,  where  there  was  in  portions  of  it  a 

high  degi'ee  of  intelligence  and  refinement. 

In  a  few  months  he  was  hcensed  to  preach 
the  gospel.   He  married  a  lady  of  high  moral 

worth,  and  settled  in  the  county  of  H 

over  four  weak  churches.  In  two  and  a  half 
years  he  received  over  two  hundred  persons 
into  the  church  on  profession  of  their  faith; 
then  took  typhoid  fever,  with  w^hicli  he  soon 
died  in  the  triumphs  of  a  living  faith. 

Since  his  death  I  have  met  with  R\e  yoimg 
men,  who  are  now  ministers  of  the  gospel, 
who  had  been  led  to  Christ  by  his  labors,  all 
of  whom  speak  of  him  as  an  extraordinary 
man  in  point  of  piety  and  usefulness. 

•Here  was  a  boy  that  in  all  probabihty 
would  have  hved  and  died  in  ignorance  and 
sin  if  he  had  not  been  found  by  a  coliDorteur. 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  107 

He  has  often  put  his  hand  on  my  shoulder, 
and  said  ^ith  tears  in  his  eyes,  "Brother 

C ,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  Tract  Society, 

I  should  have  been  a  poor  grubber  to-day,  on 
the  way  to  death  and  ruin." 

The  great  secret  of  his  success  was  his  un- 
tiring zeal  and  industry.  He  read  and  stud- 
ied on  his  saddle;  the  shades  of  the  forest 
were  his  closet  in  the  summer,  and  the  cleft 
of  some  mountain  rock  in  the  winter.  His 
congregations  were  mostly  ignorant  fanuhes, 
and  his  rostrum  a  three-legged  stool  in  the 
corner.  All  his  talents  were  put  to  use  in 
the  Lord's  work,  and  no  doubt  he  has  his 
reward.  Eeader,  go  thou  and  do  likewise, 
and  receive  a  Hke  gTacfous  reward. 

On  a  Saturday  evening  while  on  my  way 
to  meet  a  Sabbath  appointment,  while  de- 
scending a  mountain,  I  met  a  man  on  his 
way  home  from  mill,  and  offered  him  some 
tracts.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "  they  are  of  no  use 
to  me,  for  I  can't  read,  and  I  have  no  one 
about  me  that  can."  I  asked  him  if  he  had 
a  family.  "Yes,  I  have  a  wife  and  seven 
children."  "  It  is  a  gi-eat  sin,"  said  I,  "  for 
you  to   raise   a  family  in  such  ignorance." 


108         _  FIVE    YEARS 

"Oil,"  said  lie,  "there  is  so  much  harm  in 
books,  they  are  better  without  them."  I 
handed  him  two  or  three  tracts,  and  told  him 
to  get  some  one  to  read  them  to  him.  One  of 
them  was,  Fifty  Eeasons  for  Attending  Pub- 
He  Worship.  He  took  them,  and  when  he  got 
home  showed  them  to  his  wife.  "  Oh,"  s^id 
she,  "  we  vnR  be  ruined  now.  I  '11  bet  that  is 
a  warrant  that  Middleton  has  got  the  sheriff 
to  serve  on  you,  and  we  will  lose  our  land." 
They  sjoent  a  sleepless  night,  and  early  next 
morning  they  went  to  the  nearest  neighbor 
and  told  him  they  had  got  into  sad  trouble 
about  their  land ;  that  Middleton  had  served 
a  warrant  on  them,  and  here  it  was. 

The  tracts  were  presented  to  a  man  who 
was  a  class-leader  in  the  Methodist  church, 
and  was  my  informer  near  a  year  after  this 
occurrence.  He  took  the  first  one,  "Fifty 
Eeasons  for  Attending  Pubhc  Worship." 
"  Well,"  said  he,  "  this  is  a  warrant,  but  not 
sent  by  Middleton,  but  from  the  court  of  heav- 
en. God  has  sent  jou  this,  as  you  never  go 
to  church;  and  now  you  see  how  you  have 
exposed  your  ignorance  by  not  being  able  to 
read,  not  knowing  the  difference  between  a 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  109 

sheriff's  writ  and  a  religions  tract ;  and  I  do 
liope  yon  vrill  now  attend  clinrcli,  and  liave 
jonr  children  taught  to  read."  "Now,"  said 
my  informer,  "  this  man  and  his  wife  are  both 
members  of  the  chnrch,  and  they  are  sending 
their  children  to  school  as  the  result  of  the 
influence  of  those  tracts." 

On  one  occasion  I  left  home  by  a  stage- 
coach before  dayhght  on  a  long  journey. 
We  stopped  after  ten  miles  to  take  other 
passengers.  As  usual,  the  way-bill  was  taken 
into  the  stage-office  to  enter  their  names.  A 
man  was  in  the  office  who  had  travelled  near 
one  hundred  miles  to  see  me  at  L .  See- 
ing my  name  on  the  way-bill,  he  asked  if  that 
was  the  man  that  was  the  tract  agent.  About 
that  time  I  stepped  in  to  warm  myseK  and 
distribute  tracts,  when  some  one  acquainted 
with  me  told  him  I  was  the  agent.  He  then 
told  me  how  far  he  had  come  to  see  me,  and 
how  near  he  was  to  miss  me,  all  the  time  in- 
terlarding his  eonyersation  with  oaths,  to  the 
great  amazement  of  all  present  who  knew  the 
nature  of  my  work.  When  he  was  through, 
I  told  him  I  would  tell  him  the  nature  of  the 
work  in  a  few  words :  that  he  must  get  a 


110  FIYE    YEARS 

good  horse  and  a  large  paii-  of  saddle-bags, 
fill  tliem  with  books,  and  ride  over  these  rag- 
ged mountains,  and  hve  on  hard  fare.  With 
an  awful  oath  he  said  he  could  stand  all  that 
with  any  fellow  about  the  diggins.  In  ad- 
dition to  that,  said  I,  you  must  read  the 
Bible,  and  pray  at  every  house.  I  never 
paw  a  man  so  utterly  confounded,  while  those 
present  were  convulsed  with  laughter.  I 
gave  him  a  few  tracts,  and  talked  to  him 
till  he  wept  like  a  child.  Although  I  never 
heard  of  the  man  again,  I  have  hope  that  the 
conversation  was  not  in  vain. 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  Ill 


CHAPTEE  XII. 

About  tliis  time  I  lield  a  Colporteur  Con- 
yention  in  C -,  in  which  a  nnmber  of  col- 
porteurs were  present.  The  meeting  was  one 
of  deep  interest.  Many  facts  were  brought 
out  in  relation  to  the  wants  of  that  region, 
and  the  good  resulting  from  the  work,  that 
were  of  the  most  cheering  character. 

During  the  three  days  of  our  meetings,  an 
old  man  was  present  who  was  but  httle  known 
to  any  that  were  there.  When  about  to  close 
the  convention,  I  said  that  if  any  one  present 
wished  to  give  us  a  word  of  advice  or  ex- 
hortation we  should  be  glad  to  hear  it,  when 
this  old  man  rose,  trembling  with  diffidence, 
and  said : 

"As  soon  as  I  heard  of  this  meeting  I  made 
up  my  mind  to  attend  it ;  and  now  I  want  to 
tell  you  what  this  Society  has  done  for  me. 

My  name  is  C .     Ten  years  ago  I  was 

considered  the  wickedest  man  in  this  county. 
I  was  a  profane  drunkard.  One  day  while  at 
S ,  about  four  miles  above  this  place,  old 


112  FIVE   YEARS 

Mr.   E ,  who    was    always    dishibTiting 

tracts,  handed  me  one  with  the  word  Eterrdhj 
in  large  letters  at  the  head  of  it.  I  was  the 
worse  for  hquor  at  the  time,  and  on  my  horse 
to  go  home,  which  was  about  fifteen  miles 
distant.  On  my  way  I  took  the  tract  out  of 
my  hat  to  read  it.  My  attention  got  fixed 
on  the  word  Eternity,  and  I  became  alarmed 
about  my  state  as  a  sinner.  By  the  time  I 
got  home  I  was  nearly  sober.  I  read  and 
reread  the  tract  till  I  had  it  committed  to 
memory.  For  near  two  weeks  I  had  no  rest. 
At  last  my  distress  became  so  gi'eat  that  I 
did  not  want  to  hve.  One  day  I  was  tempted 
to  go  away  to  the  woods  and  destroy  myself. 
While  there  I  thought  of  praying,  for  the 
fii'st  time,  and  fell  down  on  my  knees  and 
cried,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.'  In 
a  moment  I  felt  rehef,  and  went  home  with 
a  joyful  heart,  and  told  my  family  all  about 
the  matter.  I  read  the  tract  to  them,  and 
began  to  pray  with  and  for  them.  In  six 
months  I  had  a  Httle  church  built  on  my  land, 
and  a  missionary  there  to  preach  once  each 
month,  and  myself,  wife,  and  six  of  my  chil- 
di*en  and  eight  servants  were  members  of  it ; 


IN.  THE   ALLEGHAXIES.  113 

and  here  is  five  dollars,  all  the  money  I  have 
in  the  world,  to  aid  in  giving  good  books  to 
others."  All  present  were  bathed  in  tears  at 
this  recital. 

As  soon  as  he  was  seated,  another  man 
arose  and  said  "he  supposed  all  present  had 

heard  of  Father  B ,  who  died  a  few  weeks 

ago,  and  many,  no  doubt,  remember  when  he 
was  a  ten'or  in  the  community.  He  had  re- 
markable bodily  powers,  and  could  whip  any 
man  in  all  the  country  round.  TMien  the 
county  of  L was  laid  off,  there  was  a  vio- 
lent contest  about  where  to  build  the  coui't- 

house ;  and  the  two  parties  agreed  that  B 

and  another  bully  should  decide  the  matter 

by  a  fist-fight,  and  B gained  the  site 

where  that  court-house  now  stands.  He  was 
often  brought  up  at  the  court  for  assault  and 
battery,  and  had  crippled  some  men  for  life. 

Judge  S on  one  occasion,  when  passing 

sentence  on  him,  said,  '  B ,  you  have  be- 
come too  bad  a  man  to  Hve,  and  if  ever  you 
come  before  me  again  convicted  of  crime,  I 
will  make  you  suffer  for  it  most  severely.  If 
you  would  improve  the  mind  God  has  given 
you,  you  might  be  a  blessing  to  the  world ; 


114  FIVE   YEARS 

but  now  Toii  are  a  disgrace.  Here  is  a  tract, 
'  The  Fool's  Pence ;'  take  and  read  it,  and 
may  God  lead  yon  by  it  to  be  a  better  man.' 
That  tract  was  the  means  of  his  conversion, 
and  for  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  he 
was  one  of  the  most  successful  preachers  in 
South-western  Yir^inia." 

Another  fact  was  brought  out  at  this  meet- 
ing by  the  Eev.  Mr.  W ,  who  labored  for 

some  time  as  a  colporteur  in  the  county  of 

W .     He  entered  a  large  settlement  where 

there  never  had  been  any  preaching,  schools, 
or  distribution  of  books.  The  Sabbath  was 
the  special  day  for  fi'ohcking  and  dissipation. 
In  the  house  where  he  lodged  on  Saturday 
night,  the  family  were  busy  preparing  to  go 
to  a  shooting-match  the  next  morning.  All 
he  could  say  had  no  effect  on  them.  After 
praying  God  to  guide  him  in  his  duty,  he 
determined  to  go  with  them.  T\'hen  they 
came  to  the  place,  a  large  collection  of  all 
classes  were  present,  "VNdth  a  great  number  of 
articles  to  gamble  for  in  difierent  ways.  He 
told  them,  as  it  was  the  Lord's  day,  he  would 
unite  with  them  in  prayer  for  God's  blessing. 
He  prayed  earnestly,  and  then  told  them  that 


IN   THE    ALLEGHAXIES.  115 

if  they  would  give  him  their  attention  he 
"^-oulcl  preach  to  them.  They  seemed  con- 
founded at  this  remark,  and  all  remained 
silent  as  death.  He  announced  his  text,  and 
preached  with  unusual  liberty.  The  atten- 
tion was  solemn,  and  they  looked  at  one  an- 
other with  amazement.  He  then  distributed 
among  them  his  remaining  stock  of  books 
and  tracts,  and  as  he  was  very  unwell,  went 
home.  Soon  after  the  news  spread  that  some 
people  in  that  region  were  concerned  about 
their  souls.  A  preacher  visited  them,  and 
soon  had  a  good  congregation  gathered,  and 
over  twenty  converts.  Sunday  frohcking  was 
abandoned,  and  many  were  led  to  observe 
the  Lord's  day. 

The  same  man  stated  another  fact,  which 

occurred  in  J county.     While  visiting  in 

one  of  those  sparsely  populated  regions,  he 
came  to  a  very  large  farm.  He  found  the 
family  to  consist  of  the  father,  mother,  and 
twelve  children,  the  youngest  about  eight 
years  old.  The  man  was  wealthy  in  land 
and  stock,  but  to  his  surprise  no  one  knew  a 
letter  in  a  book.  After  talking  to  them  about 
their  relations  to  God  and  eternity,  he  asked 


116  FIVE    YEARS 

the  father  why  he  did  not  have  his  children 
taught  to  read.  The  old  objection  was  raised 
at  once,  that  they  learned  enough  of  had  with- 
out books ;  that  he  had  got  along  very  weU 
without  reading,  and  so  could  his  childi*en. 

He  then  began  to  read  to  them,  showed 
them  the  pictures  in  the  Alphabet  of  Ajiimals, 
and  read  them  some  account  of  them.  Sev- 
eral of  the  children  said,  "  Oh,  I  wish  I  could 
read."  He  then  gave  them  one  or  two  books 
and  some  tracts.  A  few  months  after  he  was 
coming  back  the  same  way,  and  called  to  pay 
another  visit.  "  Well,"  said  the  old  man,  "you 
have  give  me  a  j^9?n-f?/  lot  of  trouble  hy  leaving 
them  hooks  here.  I  had  no  peace  till  I  got  a 
man  to  come  and  lam  them  to  read  them." 
So  sure  enough  the  teacher  was  there,  and 
now  they  bought  more  books  fi-eely. 

In  traveUing  through  a  ^dld  mountain  re- 
gion, where  I  was  a  total  stranger,  I  came  to 
a  small  village  of  about  a  dozen  houses,  with 
a  httle  store  and  tavern.  Before  I  reached 
it,  I  heard  men  hallooing  in  the  most  boister- 
ous manner.  When  I  drove  up  weary  to  the 
pubHc-house,  I  was  surrounded  with  such  a 
set  of  savage-looking  men  as  I  never  had 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  llT 

seen  before,  and  all  intoxicated.  Every  man 
had  on  a  liimting-sliirt,  with  a  belt  round  him, 
to  which  hung  a  long  butcher-knife.  I  felt 
afi-aid  of  the  men,  I  must  confess,  and  would 
have  been  glad  to  have  been  elsewhere,  espe- 
cially as  my  buggy  and  trunk  seemed  to  at- 
tract rather  too  much  attention. 

After  I  had  got  food  for  myself  and  horse, 
and  laid  round  some  tracts  as  quietly  as  pos- 
sible, I  started,  hoping  to  reach  a  point  near 
twenty  miles  distant  that  night.  Some  part 
of  the  way  I  was  told  the  road  was  very 
good,  but  mostly  rough  and  mountainous. 

As  soon  as  I  was  out  of  sight,  I  drove  rap- 
idly, and  made  the  first  five  miles  in  an  hour, 
when  I  began  to  breathe  easier. 

But  all  at  once  I  heard  the  most  unearthly 
yeUing  behind  me  that  had  ever  gTeeted  my 
ears.  My  horse  was  frightened,  and  tried  to 
run  off.  In  a  few  moments  I  heard  the  clat- 
ter of  horses'  feet,  and  concluded  all  was  over 
with  me.  In  a  moment  I  was  surrounded 
■^ith  some  eight  or  ten  of  the  most  desperate 
looking  men,  and  told  to  stop ;  that  they 
wanted  to  know  what  I  was  loaded  with.  I 
told  them  I  was  loaded  with  good  religious 


118  FIVE    YEARS 

books,  wliicli  I  was  distributing  among  peo- 
ple that  had  none  I  was  then  ordered  to 
give  them  all  up  to  them,  and  thej  would 
scatter  them  on  the  other  side  of  the  moun- 
tain, for  there  were  no  books  over  there.  I 
told  them  I  knew  thej  were  too  generous  to 
take  all  that  I  had. 

I  then  told  them  to  listen  to  me,  and  I 
would  tell  them  what  the  books  taught.  So 
I  began  and  preached  them  the  most  earnest 
sermon  that  I  ever  preached.  One  of  them 
said,  "  Give  me  your  hand,  sir,  for  I  never 
had  a  preacher  bj  the  hand  in  my  Hfe."  I 
held  his  hand  firmly,  and  preached  on,  al- 
though the  muzzle  of  his  gun  was  fi'equently 
in  very  dangerous  proximity  to  my  person. 

It  was  evident  they  began  to  feel  uneasy 
under  my  wayside  sermon,  and  for  fear  they 
would  leave  me  without  tracts,  I  began  the 
distribution,  and  gave  each  one  a  number  of 
the  most  suitable  I  could  find.  They  invited 
me  to  come  over  the  mountains  and  preach, 
and  I  would  get  plenty  to  come  and  hear  me. 
Some  of  those  tracts  were  found  more  than  a 
year  after  by  one  of  our  colporteui'S,  carefully 
preserved  and  highly  prized. 


IN   THE   ALLEaHANIES.  119 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

Another  case  tliat  seemed  more  threaten- 
ing than  the  last  mentioned,  occurred  soon 

after  in  the  comity  of  G .     I  was  on  my 

way  to  meet  a  Sabbath  appointment.  About 
two  o'clock  I  came  to  a  river  which  was 
much  swollen  by  the  late  rains.  The  man 
who  kept  the  ferry-boat  Hved  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  where  some  four  or  five  men 
were  pitching  quoits  and  making  a  great 
noise.  I  called  a  number  of  times  before 
they  even  condescended  to  answer  me ;  and 
when  they  did  answer,  it  was  with  cui'ses, 
telling  me  they  would  come  when  they  were 
ready.     I  had  then  sixteen  miles  to  go  to 

B ,  the  place  where  I  expected  to  lodge. 

They  kept  me  waiting  two  hours  before  they 
came  with  the  boat,  consequently  it  was  late 
when  I  got  over.  They  were  drunk  and  very 
profane,  charged  me  four  prices,  and  cursed 
me  for  troubhng  them.  I  gave  them  some 
tracts,  and  the  best  advice  I  could. 

Soon  after  I  met  two  women:  one  seemed 


120  FIVE   YEARS 

to  be  about  thirty,  and  the  other  sixty  years 
old.  I  offered  them  some  tracts,  Tvhich  they 
at  fii'st  declined,  for  fear  I  might  be  the  sher- 
iff. Neither  knew  a  letter,  or  conld  tell  who 
was  the  Sa^ioui-  of  sinners. 

Soon  after  I  passed  them  a  terrible  rain 
came  on,  and  the  roads  were  so  deep  my 
horse  conld  scarcely  draw  my  buggy.  I  saw 
night  would  soon  overtake  me,  and  the  pros- 
pect of  lodging  looked  nnfayorable.  I  stop- 
ped at  a  cabin  by  the  roadside  to  inquire  the 
way,  and  leave  some  tracts.  A  man  came  out 
who  looked  as  if  he  was  ready  for  any  crime, 
and  came  right  up  to  my  buggy,  and  began 
to  look  in  with  a  scrutinizing  eye.  He  either 
could  not  or  would  not  give  me  any  satisfac- 
tion about  the  road.  After  an  earnest  exhor- 
tation about  his  soul,  I  gave  him  Baxter's 
Call.  All  the  conduct  of  the  man  was  of  a 
very  suspicious  character. 

It  .was  now  late,  and  raining  hard,  and  in  a 
little  time  would  be  very  dark.  I  drove  on 
as  fast  as  possible,'  until  it  began  to  get  quite 
dark,  when  I  met  a  man  on  the  road  walking ; 
whether  he  was  a  white  man  or  not,  I  could 
not  tell.     I  stopped  him  to  inquire  if  there 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  121 

was  any  place  near  where  I  could  lodge.  He 
immediat^lj  began  to  examine  the  inside  of 
mj  bnggy  as  fully  as  the  darkness  would  per- 
mit. He  told  me  there  was  a  man  on  the 
other  bank  of  the  creek,  about  haK  a  mile 
ahead  of  me,  who  kept  lodgers,  and  that  it 
was  a  good  place  to  stop.  I  handed  him 
a  book  and  thanked  him,  and  drove  on,  he 
follo-^-ing  a  short  distance,  asking  me  ques- 
tions which  were  not  calculated  to  aUay  my 
anxiety. 

I  soon  reached  the  creek,  which  seemed  to 
be  very  high  and  rapid,  and  it  was  so  dark  I 
could  see  no  object  on  the  other  side  of  it. 
The  road  entered  by  a  narrow  ravine,  and 
there  was  no  way  to  back  out.  I  hfted  my 
heart  to  God  for  protection,  and  di'oye  in. 
In  a  moment  the  water  was  up  in  my  bugg}', 
but  thanks  to  God,  I  got  through  safely,  and 
in  a  few  moments  my  horse  was  standing  by 
the  door  of  a  miserable  cabin. 

I  called,  and  a  man  came  out  with  a  torch 
of  pine-knots  in  his  hand.  He  was  both  dirty 
and  ragged.  I  asked  him  where  the  man 
lived  that  kept  lodgers.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "  I 
am  the  man  that  keeps  tavern  here."     My 


122  FIVE   YEARS 

prospects  were  bad,  but  I  could  get  no  fur- 
ther. I  asked  liim  to  put  up  my  tired  horse 
and  feed  him.  He  had  no  stable. but  a  rail- 
pen,  no  feed  but  some  sheaves  of  green 
wheat.  He  took  me  to  another  cabin  about 
fifty  yards  distant,  that  was  as  dark  as  a  dun- 
geon, except  so  far  as  his  torch  gave  us  Hght. 
Although  it  was  warm,  I  requested  him  to 
make  me  a  fire,  which  he  did  with  reluctance. 

After  some  time  I  was  invited  to  the  first 
cabin  to  supper.  The  man  and  his  wife  and 
children,  as  weU  as  the  supper,  were  all  dirty 
in  the  extreme.  I  attempted  to- eat,  but  in 
vain.  As  soon  as  the  man  finished  his  meal, 
we  returned  to  the  other  cabin,  where  I  con- 
versed with  liim.  He  was  a  total  stranger  to 
the  simplest  truths  of  the  Bible. 

I  asked  him  if  he  knew  any  thing  of  the 
celebrated  Lucas  family  of  that  county.  "  Oh 
yes,"  said  he,  "  they  hve  all  round  here.  Did 
you  not  meet  a  man  as  you  came  along  to- 
night about  the  top  of  the  hill  over  the  creek?"' 
I  said  yes.  "  Well,  that  was  one  of  them,  and 
I  wonder  they  let  you  pass  so  late  in  the 
evening.  That  one,  and  the  one  that  hved  in 
the  house  you  last  passed  were  the  two  impli- 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  123 

cated  in  killing  the  man  for  wliicli  one  of  their 
uncles  was  hung  at  Giles  court-house,  and  if 
I  had  given  in  my  testimony,  they  would 
have  been  hung  too;  and  I  am  afraid  they 
will  kill  me,  because  I  know  all  about  it." 

By  this  time  I  was  considerably  alarmed. 
The  conclusion  I  came  to  was  that  they  were 
all  linked  together,  and  that  I  was  in  the 
slaughter-house. 

I  then  inquired  all  about  old  Eandal  Lucas, 
who  was  the  father  of  two  that  had  been 
hung,  and  some  others  that  were  in  prison, 
and  was  the  grandfather  of  the  two  he  had 
just  been  telling  me  about.  He  gave  me  a 
full  history  of  the  old  man,  much  of  which 
cannot  be  told.  "  But,"  said  he,  "  such  a  man 
you  never  saw.  He  is  ninety  years  old.  When 
he  i3uts  on  a  suit  of  clothes,  he  never  takes  it 
off  till  it  is  worn  out.  In  the  winter  he  hes 
in  the  ashes,  and  in  the  summer  he  Hes  down 
in  the  mire  like  a  hog."  This  is  confirmed 
in  Howe's  History  of  Yirginia,  which  relates 
how  he  sat  under  the  gallows  eating  ginger- 
bread while  his  sons  were  hung.  I  refer  the 
reader  to  that  history  for  an  account  of  this 
wonderful  man  and  his  family. 


124  FIVE   YEARS 

The  manner  in  which  he  told  the  whole 
story  was  any  thing  but  pleasant  to  me.  He 
began  to  get  sleepy,  and  told  me  he  would 
hold  the  pine-light  while  I  got  into  bed  up  on 
the  hft,  as  he  called  it.  The  only  way  to  get 
up  was  by  a  ladder  made  of  a  pole  spht 
in  two,  with  rounds  put  into  it.  I  climbed 
up,  and  he  followed  me  with  the  torch.  As 
soon  as  I  got  to  the  bed  oyer  the  loose  boards 
that  coyered  the  floor,  and  found  an  old  spht- 
bottom  chair,  which  I  expected  to  use  in  self- 
defence  before  morning,  I  told  him  to  T^dth- 
draw. 

I  lay  down  T^dthout  undressing,  after  com- 
mitting my  soul,  family,  and  all  my- interests 
to  God,  without  much  hope  of  seeing  the 
light  of  another  day.  No  one  occupied  the 
house  but  myseK  as  a  bedi'oom.  I  kept 
watch  till  morning,  and  when  any  impleasant 
sound  was  heard,  I  made  noise  enough  to  let 
any  one  approaching  know  that  I  was  awake. 

As  soon  as  it  was  light  I  was  up  to  see  to 
my  poor  horse,  which  was  standing  in  mud 
and  water  six  inches  deep,  T^ith^t  food. 
After  getting  him  some  more  gi'een  wheat  in 
the  sheaf,  and  a  little  corn  bread  for  myself, 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  125 

and  talking  and  praying  Tvitli  the  family,  I 
left  them.  I  cannot  say  whether  there  was 
any  intention  to  rob  me  or  take  my  life.  I 
hope  there  was  not. 

"WTien  I  was  about  two  miles  on  my  way, 
and  was  rising  a  mountain  where  the  road 
was  scarcely  six  inches  wider  than  my  buggy, 
a  man  met  me,  riding  a  poor  old  horse  with- 
out a  saddle,  all  in  rags  and  dii't,  with  noth- 
ing on  him  but  remnants  of  a  torn  shirt  and 
pants,  with  a  rope  tied  round  his  waist,  and 
a  bottle  of  whiskey  in  his  bosom.  Such  a 
looking  piece  of  humanity  I  had  never  seen 
before.  In  a  moment  I  concluded  this  is 
certainly  old  Eandal  Lucas.  I  saw  he  could 
not  pass  me  on  that  narrow  road,  and  I  de- 
termined to  have  a  full  talk  with  him.  When, 
we  met  he  tried  to  keep  the  upper  side  of  the 
road,  and  get  between  my  horse  and  the  steep 
bank. 

"  Good  morning,  sir,"  said  I.  "  Good  morn- 
ing," said  he,  in  a  very  unnatural  tone  of 
voice.  "  Do  n't  you  want  some  good  books 
to  read  this  morning?"  "No,  I  do  n't  want 
any;  I  can't  read."  "  Do  you  go  to  church?" 
"No,  I  don't  care  about  church."     "  WeU, 


126  FIVE    YEARS 

sir,"  said  I,  "3-011  are  an  old  man  and  must 
soon  go  to  the  other  world."  "Yes,  I  am 
ninety  years  old."  "Is  it  possible,"  said  I, 
"you  are  so  old?"  "Yes,  I  can  prove  it." 
"  You  would  find  buj»  few  witnesses  to  prove 
that  by."  "Well,  I  can  swear  it  then." 
"Well,  sir,"  said  I,  "what  do  you  think  Avill 
become  of  you  when  you  die  ?"  "  O  well,  I 
does  'nt  care  any  thing  about  that."  "  Can 
you  tell  me  who  is  the  Saviour  of  sinners  ?" 
"I  don't  know  any  thing  of  them  things." 
"  Well,  sir,  who  made  you  ?"  "  Why,  I  sup- 
pose it  was  God  Almighty."  "  What  is  3'our 
name,  sir  ?"  "  Eandal  Lucas."  "  Well,"  said 
I,  "I  thought  so,"  straightening  myself  with 
a  determined  look.  "  Well,  su%  you  say  you 
don't  go  to  church,  and  I  must  tell  you  in 
the  name  of  my  Master,  that  if  you  do  n't  re- 
pent you  will  soon  be  in  hell.  I  have  read 
and  heard  of  you,  sir,  for  years,  and  you 
stand  on  the  brink  of  eternal  burnings,  and 
your  soul  stained  with  every  crime  that  a 
man  could  commit."  He  began  to  look  fright- 
ened, and  tried  to  pass  me;  but  I  kept  my 
position,  and  for  some  minutes  laid  down  the 
terrors  of  the  law  in  the  strongest  language 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  127 

I  could  use,  and  tlien  gave  him  some  little 
books  and  tracts.  He  trembled  like  an  aspen 
leaf. 

A  few  T^^eeks  afterwards  lie  took  up  the 
idea  that  he  was  soon  to  die,  got  a  coffin 
made,  tried  it  to  see  if  it  would  fit,  paid  for 
it,  and  set  it  up  in  his  cabin — sent  for  a 
preacher,  told  him  he  was  going  to  die  and 
did  not  know  what  would  become  of  liim, 
and  asked  him  to  pray  for  him ;  offered  him 
fifty  cents,  and  said,  "Pray  on  till  my  money 
is  done."  The  money  was  of  course  refused. 
In  a  few  days  the  poor  Avretch  died  as  he 
had  lived,  leaving  a  host  of  children  the  de- 
scendants of  imnatural  and  brutal  connec- 
tion. 


128  FIVE    YEAliS 


CHAPTEE   XIV 


Teamiilling  in  a  moimtainous  region  at 
nightfall  of  a  tempestuous  day,  and  having 
lost  mj  road,  I  was  directed  for  a  lodging 

to  "Squire  D 's,  who  keeps  the  ferry." 

After  supper,  I  had  a  pleasant  talk  Tvith  the 

father  of  Squire  T> ,  on  whose,  head  the 

snows  of  eighty  winters  had  fallen,  and  soon 
the  family  were  gathered  round  us,  engaged 
in  delightful  converse.  I  inquired  as  to  the 
high-handed  wickedness  of  a  neighborhood 
not  far  off,  where  I  had  heard  that  meet- 
ings were  frequently  held  in  mockery  of  re- 
ligious worship : 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  the  squii'e,  vrith.  just 
enough  of  the  Welsh  accent  to  betray  his 
origin,  "  and  our  neighborhood  here  was  just 
as  bad  ten  years  ago ;  we  were  all  alike  :  no 
church,  no  preacher,  no  Sunday-school,  no 
day-school.  One  evening  a  minister  and  a 
young  lady  stopped  at  my  house  for  the 
night ;  I  thought  them  very  inquisitive  yyeo- 
ple.     They  asked  if  we  had  any  preaching. 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  129 

*No.'  Any  scliools ?  'No;  we  have  had  sev- 
eral teachers,  but  no  one  will  stay  more  than 
a  quarter  vdih.  us.'  The  young  lady  said  she 
would  come  and  take  a  school  among  us,  if 
we  would  employ  her.  After  some  further 
conversation,  I  told  her  I  would  see  what 
could  be  done,  and  write  her  the  result.  Next 
morning  they  left  for  the  minister's  home  at 
M ,  some  fifty  miles  distant. 

"  In  a  short  time  I  had  a  school  made  up 
and  board  engaged  for  the  new  teacher,  and 
wrote  her  to  that  effect.  She  came  and  com- 
menced her  school  at  the  time  appointed. 
But  soon  there  was  complaint  that  the  new 
teacher  recfcl  the  Bible  and  ];jrayed  in  her  school. 
And  her  troubles  did  not  cease  here.  The 
man  at  whose  house  she  boarded  insisted  that 
she  should  leave,  because  she  prayed,  sung 
hymns,  and  would  keep  talking  about  relig- 
ion all  the  time.    Miss  H then  set  out  to 

look  up  another  home  for  herself;  but  she 
met  the  same  reply  from  all :  '  We  cannot  re- 
ceive you  unless  you  leave  off  praying  and 
singing.' 

"  When  she  appHed  to  me,  I  objected  on 
the  same  grounds.    Finally,  I  told  her  if  she 


130  FIVE    YEARS 

would  come  on  my  own  terms,  I  would  take 
her  into  my  family.  She  inquired  what  those 
terms  were.  'Why,'  said  I,  'you  shall  haye 
such  a  room  to  yourself;  there  you  are  to 
stay  from  the  time  you  return  from  school 
imtil  you  start  to  go  back,  only  when  you 
come  to  your  meals :  you  must  not  sing 
hymns ;  you  may  pray  as  much  as  you  please, 
but  mind  you  do  n't  let  us  hear  you  at  it ;  and 
remember,  the  first  time  you  infiinge  this  con- 
tract, you  leaye  the  premises.'  To  all  this 
she  agreed,  Tidth  as  much  meekness  as  if  my 
terms  had  been  reasonable  and  right.  That 
eyening  she  took  up  her  abode  under  my 
roof;  and  little  did  I  think  what  a  blessing 
God  was  sending  me  in  that  fi-ail,  dehcate 
girl. 

"The  childi-en  all  loyed  the  new  teacher 
yery  much.  So  one  day  she  told  them  to  ask 
their  parents'  permission,  and  if  tliey  were 
agreed,  she  would  teach  them  on  Sunday  too. 
This  proposal  pleased  us  aU.  If  she  taught 
on  Sunday,  that  was  so  much  clear  gain  to 
us. 

"  I  soon  obseryed  that  my  children  took  to 
staying  in  the  teacher's  room  much  of  their 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  131 

time.  At  length,  one  Sunday  morning,  they 
came  cIot^ti  with  some  tracts;  I  looked  over 
them,  and  found  they  were  on  the  subject  of 
rehgion.  Ah,  said  I,  my  lady,  I  've  caught 
you  now.  I  called  her  down,  told  her  she 
had  violated  her  contract,  and  must  be  off. 
The  poor  girl  began  to  weep ;  I  felt  ashamed. 
'Dear  sir,'  said  she,  'will  you  read  those 
tracts  ?  If  you  do,  and  still  continue  in  your 
present  mind,  I  will  leave  your  house  im- 
mediately.' 

"  Here  was  a  pretty  fix ;  the  children  were 
all  crying,  and  begging  me  not  to  send  Miss 

H away  ;  and  the  books.  Oh,  they  could 

not  part  with  the  books.  I  was  mightily 
perplexed ;  at  last  I  gave  in.     Said  I,  '  Miss 

H ,  you  may  go  back  to  your  room ;  I  will 

consider  the  matter.'  I  shall  never  forget  the 
smile  that  passed  over  her  face  as  she  thanked 
me  and  went  back  to  her  room.  Thanked 
me,  indeed !  Well,  I  set  to  work,  read  one 
of  the  tracts,  felt  seK-condemned ;  read  it 
again,  felt  dreadfully  troubled.  Then  I  read 
them  all,  and  felt  that  I  was  a  great  sinner. 

I  said  nothing  more  to  IMiss  H about 

leaving  my  house.    Each  day  my  convictions 


132  FIVE   YEARS 

became  deeper.  At  last,  I  could  bear  it  no 
longer.      Thought  I,  this  Tvont  do ;  I  must 

talk  with  Miss  H .     So  I  invited  her  to 

come  and  sit  with  us  in  the  family.  She 
cheerfuUj  comphed.  I  asked  her  a  great 
many  questions  about  the  doctrines  of  the 
Bible,  not  meaning  to  let  her  know  any  thing 
about  my  concern.  But  all  would  not  do ; 
my  distress  continued,  or  rather  my  agony, 
for  I  thought  I  was  the  greatest  sinner  on 
earth. 

"At last,  I  sent  one  evening  for  Miss  H 

to  come  down,  and  I  told  her  my  troubles ; 
for  my  proud  heart  was  weU-nigh  broken. 

Said  I,  Miss  H ,  I  feel  so  and  so  ever 

since  I  read  those  tracts  of  yours  ;  and  I  re- 
lated all  that  was  passing  in  my  mind ;  and, 
said  I,  do  you  think  there  is  any  mercy  or 
hope  for  such  a  poor  miserable  sinner?  The 
tears  began  to  run  down  her  cheeks ;  then 
she  laughed ;  then  she  caught  me  by  both 
hands,  and  looking  up  into  my  face,  she  said, 
*  Oh,  my  dear  fiiend,  I  am  so  glad.  *  Why,' 
said  I,  *  are  you  glad  because  I  am  in  trouble?' 
'  Oh,  my  dear  sir,'  says  she, '  this  is  the  Spirit 
of  God  operating  on  your  heart.'    All  at  onco 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  133 

a  great  Kglit  seemed  to  shine  into  my  mind. 
All  that  I  had  been  learning  for  so  many 
weeks  seemed  now  just  as  plain  as  A  B  C. 

Said  I,  '  Come,  Miss  H ,  kneel  down  then 

and  pray  for  me;'  and  she  did  pray  for  me, 
and  I  do  bless  God  for  his  wonderful  mercy 
to  such  a  poor  hardened  sinner.  I  beheve 
that  God  did  change  my  heart  just  while  that 
very  prayer  was  going  up.  All  at  once  it  just 
came :  I  loved  my  Bible  and  I  loved  to  pray, 
and  I  could  not  bear  the  company  that  I  used 
to  take  so  much  dehght  in. 

"  On  the  next  Sabbath,  Miss  H asked 

me  to  go  along  with  her  and  the  childi'en  to 
the  school — which  was,  and  had  been  a  Sim- 
day-school,  though  we  never  suspected  it ; 
and  here  came  a  trial.  If  I  go,  they  will  say 
I  am  getting  reHgious ;  if  I  stay,  it  will  be  a 
sin,  for  I  know  I  ought  to  go ;  and  then  it 
will  grieve  Miss  H .  These  last  consid- 
erations were  the  strongest ;  so  I  went.  The 
room  was  crowded  with  children,  all  waiting 
for  their  teacher ;  I  thought  they  all  looked 

happy.    After  a  httle  while.  Miss  H took 

the  Bible,  and  coming  to  me,  she  said,  'Mr. 
D ,  will  you  read  and  pray  with  us  this 


134  FIVE   YEAES 

morning?'  I  was  startled;  ray  yery  heart 
trembled.  Said  I,  '  Oh  no ;  not  now.'  Then 
she  read  a  chapter  and  prayed  herself.  Oh, 
how  I  felt,  to  think  that  I  was  ashamed  to 
pray  before  those  children !  Ah,  thought  I, 
this  will  never  do ;  I  will  come  here  and  pray 
next  Simday.  That  night  I  read  and  prayed 
with  my  family ;  and  the  next  Sabbath  I 
opened  the  school  with  prayer. 

''  The  news  spread  soon  all  through  the 

settlement.     D has  got  rehgion  and  is 

praying  in  the  Sunday-school !  strange  news 
this !     Tery  soon  the  people  began  to  di'op 

into  our  Sunday-school.     Then  Miss  H 

said  to  me,  *  Tou  had  better  read  us  a  ser- 
mon at  the  Sunday-school,  after  the  other 
exercises  are  over.'  She  selected  the  ser- 
mons, and  I  read  them.  Our  meetings  grew 
very  solemn.     Presently  we  sent  word  to  a 

good  man  at  B to  send  us  a  minister ;  he 

did  so.  The  minister  came  and  preached  for 
us.  The  Httle  school-house  coidd  not  con- 
tain one  haK  of  the  people  who  crowded  to 
hear  him.  "We  held  our  meetings  in  the  open 
air,  under  the  trees. 

"Ah,  that  was  a  wonderful  time;  the  cry 


IN    THE    ALLEGHAXIES.  135 

of  the  anxious  sinner  went  up  from  every 
house.  The  Spiiit  of  God  was  moving  might- 
ily upon  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  many 
were  born  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  All 
this  brought  a  gTeat  change  in  our  settlement. 
Instead  of  the  dance,  and  the  gaming-table, 
and  the  foohsh  song,  we  had  meetings  for 
prayer  and  praise ;  and  the  tavern  and  still- 
house  were  exchanged  for  the  temple  of 
God. 

"  The  Sabbath  became  a  day  of  holy  rest 
among  a  people  who  used  to  spend  it  in  rev- 
ehy  or  idleness.  Houses  of  worship  were 
built,  where  our  population  flocked  every 
Sabbath  to  hear  the  preached  word  from  the 
living  minister ;  and  in  the  course  of  two 
or  three  years,  hundi'eds  professed  faith  in 
Christ,  and  joined  the  church.  We  have  had 
a  flourishing  church  here  ever  since.  Ah," 
said  the  good  man,  in  his  peculiarly  emphatic 
way,  "  see  what  God  hath  wrought  for  us." 

How  often  have  I  reproached  myself,  when 
I  contrasted  the  heroic  conduct  of  this  de- 
voted female  with  my  own  man-fearing  spmt ! 
She  has  gone  to  her  reward ;  her  memory  will " 
be  cherished  for  a  few  more  years  in  the 


136  FIVE   YEARS 

hearts  of  those  to  whom  her  humble  efforts 
were  of  such  immense  value,  and  then  pass 
away  and  be  forgotten.  But  her  injiuence 
wall  pass  on,  an  ever-increasing  current,  down 
the  long  tracts  of  time,  and  throughout  the 
endless  ages  of  eternity. 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  131 


CHAPTEE  XY. 

The  latter  part  of  the  year  1848  was  spent 
laboring  in  South-western  Virginia.  I  visited 
several  towns  as  a  colporteur,  faking  with  me 
some  applicant  for  this  service,  to  give  him  a 
favorable  introduction  to  his  labors. 

I  reached  the  beautiful  town  of  A late 

in  the  evening,  an  entire  stranger,  and  stopped 
at  a  hotel,  wet,  cold,  and  hungry.  About  the 
same  time  the  stage  arrived  with  a  number  of 
passengers,  and  we  all  asked  for  rooms  with 
fire  in  them.  While  this  was  prej)aring  I 
stepped  into  the  bar-room,  the  only  place 
where  I  could  find  a  fire ;  but  it  had  been 
election  day,  and  such  a  company  of  intoxi- 
cated men  I  had  never  seen  in  one  room. 
Several  of  them  were  lying  on  the  floor,  una- 
ble to  rise;  and  the  swearing  was  awful.  I 
immediately  began  the  distribution  of  tracts 
and  little  paper-covered  books;  and  among 
them  I  laid  down  a  copy  of  "  Universalism 
not  of  God."  As  I  jDassed  round,  laying  them 
down  on  chairs  and  tables,  as  well  as  hand- 


138  FIVE    YEARS 

ing  them  to  the  men,  I  observed  a  very  fine- 
looking  man  who  had  come  in  the  stage,  fol- 
lowing me,  and  looking  at  them. 

As  I  laid  down  "  Universalism  not  of  God," 
he  took  it  up,  and  said  to  me  very  abruptly 
that  the  book  was  a  libel  on  the  TTniversalists. 
"  Oh,"  said  I,  "  I  understand  the  cause  of 
your  objection  to  the  book.  You  are  one  of 
those  who  beheve  that  thieves,  murderers, 
and  liars  all  go  to  heaven ;  that  there  is  no 
such  place  as  hell."  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  I  have 
too  good  an  opinion  of  God's  mercy  to  beheve 
there  is  any  such  place  as  hell."  TMien  he 
made  that  remark,  one  of  the  fellows  who  was 
lying  drunk  on  the  floor  raised  his  head  and 
said,  "You  are  a  har;"  while  another  said 
he  "  wished  that  w^as  true,  but  there  was  no 
such  good  news."  Said  I,  "Su-,  I  will  hand 
you  over  to  these  men,  and  you  and  they  may 
settle  the  controversy."  He  immediately  dis- 
appeared from  the  room. 

During  my  stay  of  three  weeks  in  this  beau- 
tiful town,  I  visited  every  family  in  it,  and 
either  sold  or  gave  books. 

One  day  I  stepped  into  the  office  of  a  law- 
yer, who  was  one  of  the  first  men  in  the  state 


IN    THE    ALLEaHAXIES.  139 

in  his  profession.  I  offered  liim  a  copy  of 
Nelson  on  Infidelity.  Said  he,  "  I  could  not 
take  time  to  read  a  book  of  that  size,  except 
on  law,  for  less  than  five  hundred  dollars." 
I  then  offered  him  Baxter's  Call.  Said  he, 
"  That  is  too  big  a  dose  for  me  too."  I  then 
presented  him  the  tract,  "  The  Great  Alterna- 
tive." ""\\^ell,"  said  he,  "  as  you  are  so  anx- 
ious for  me  to  read  some  of  your  books,  I 
will  read  that  right  off."  He  •  commenced, 
and  I  left  him.  An  hour  or  two  after  I  was 
passing  his  door,  and  he  was  sitting  in  a 
thoughtful  mood.  Said  I,  "Have  you  read 
the  tract  ?"  "Yes,"  said  he,  "  and  if  I  would 
read  a  few  more  like  it  I  think  I  might  be- 
come a  Christian."  Said  I,  "  Too  busy  to  be 
saved."  "Yes,"  said  he,  "I  fear  that  is  my 
case  ;  I  have  not  a  moment  to  spare  from  my 
business."  Alas,  how  many  will  have  to  say, 
I  was  too  busy  to  be  saved. 

In  the  same  toT\Ti  there  was  a  man  who  had 
once  been  a  minister  of  some  prominence  in 
an  evangelical  church,  but  had  left  it,  and 
embraced  the  doctrines  of  Swedenborg,  for 
which  he  was  very  zealous.  I  did  not  wish 
to  encounter  him ;  but  as  I  stepped  into  a 


140  FIYE   YEARS 

store  one  niglit  to  scatter  tracts,  he  was  pres- 
ent. He  immediately  made  an  attack  on  me, 
and  said  tliat  he  could  not  imagine  how  any 
wise  man  could  believe  in  the  doctrine  of  the 
Trinity;  that  it  was  so  absurd  that  nothing  in 
heaven  or  earth  could  illustrate  it.  I  saw  the 
eyes  of  all  present  were  turned  to  me,  and  felt 
in  a  tight  place.  I  lifted  my  heart  to  God  for 
help  to  ^-indicate  his  tmth.  A  candle  was 
burning  between  us.  Said  I,  pointing  to  the 
candle,  "Sir,  there  is  a  trinity  giving  us  Hght. 
There  is  tallow,  Tsdck,  and  fire,  three  in  one." 
He  acknowledged  he  was  beat,  and  took  his 
leave,  to  the  amusement  of  those  present,  and 
to  my  great  satisfaction. 

After  two  months'  labor  in  South-western 

Virginia,  I  returned  to  my  home  in  L , 

near  two  hundred  miles  distant  fi'om  A , 

and  devoted  a  month  to  correspondence  and 
adjusting  accounts  with  over  fifty  colporteurs 
I  had  now  employed. 

Though  L had  been  my  home  for  over 

two  years,  I  had  never  had  time  to  visit  all 
the  famiUes  with  our  books  and  tracts.  I  had 
often  determined  to  do  it,  but  other  labors 
had  prevented.    The  number  of  warm  friends 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  141 

and  liberal  contributors  in  and  around  the 
town  seemed  to  lay  special  claims  on  me  to 
do  the  work,  and  I  resolved  to  spend  the 
months  of  January  and  February  laboring  in 
the  town  and  vicinity. 

At  this  time  it  was  remarked  by  the  minis- 
ters and  praying  people  of  God,  that  they  had 
not  felt  such  a  spiritual  dearth  there  for  many 
years.  The  ball-room  was  better  attended 
than  the  churches,  and  the  young  seemed  to 
be  rushing  into  sin  with  greediness.  My  own 
soul  too  was  in  darkness,  and  my  strength 
nearly  prostrated.  My  devotions,  pubHc  and 
private,  were  heartless.  I  was  even  tempted 
to  leave  my  work  and  engage  in  some  secu- 
lar business. 

At  last  I  told  a  few  of  the  most  pious  whom 
I  knew  about  the  desh:e  I  had  to  visit  the 
famihes,  and  that  the  state  of  my  own  heart 
was  such  that  I  was  prevented  from  doing 
it.  They  urged  me  forward,  and  promised 
to  pray  for  me.  I  set  day  after  day  to  be- 
gin; but  when  the  day  and  hour  came  for 
me  to  start,  my  heart  would  fail,  and  Satan 
seemed  to  have  some  excuse  always  ready. 
At  last  I  entered  into  covenant  with  God  to 


142  FIVE    YEARS 

begin  the  next  day ;  but  wlien  the  morning 
came  mj  hard,  cowardly  heart  failed  me.  I 
tried  to  pray  again  and  again.  I  put  it  off 
till  the  afternoon,  with  a  hope  of  getting 
sti'ength.  A  cai-pet-bag  had  been  standing 
full  of  books  and  tracts  for  some  days  waiting, 
and  they  seemed  to  rebuke  my  cowardice. 

At  last  I  thought  that  if  Moses  had  not 
step]3ed  into  the  Eed  sea,  the  waters  would 
never  have  receded.  The  next  morning  still 
found  me  at  home.  As  soon  as  my  breakfast 
was  over  I  took  the  cai-^Det-bag  and  books  to 
a  room  and  earnestly  prayed  oyer  them,  and 
then  started. 

The  next  neiorhbor  to  me  was  a  Mr.  H . 

His  wife  and  mother-in-law  were  devoted 
Christians,  but  he  was  careless  about  relig- 
ion, and  so  was  his  brother,  a  young  man 
that  had  his  home  there.  I  dealt  faithfullj 
with  them,  and  prayed  with  them.  Each  of 
them  bought  a  book,  and  I  left  them  in  tears. 
Soon  after  the  young  man  professed  reHgion, 
and  the  other  remained  serious  as  long  as  I 
knew  him.  All  my  fears  were  now  gone.  A 
few  minutes  before  I  was  ashamed  to  own 
Christ  before  a  kitchen-maid;  now  I  could 


IX    THE    ALLEGHANIES:  143 

face  the  world,  and  the  promise  was  reahzed, 
"My  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weak- 
ness." 

I  next  went  to  Mr.  P 's  and  had  a  long 

talk  with  his  daughter,  a  very  intelligent  gi;ii 
of  twelve  summers.  In  a  short  time  she  pro- 
fessed religion. 

I  next  entered  the  house  of  Mr.  R . 

He  and  his  wife  were  two  of  the  friends  to 
wham  I  had  told  my  difficulties,  and  who  had 
engaged  to  pray  for  me.  They  had  two  very 
interesting  daughters  that  moved  in  the  most 
fashionable  circles  of  society.  As  soon  as  I 
entered  the  house  they  knew  my  errand.  I 
was  directed  to  the  parlor,  and  told  by  the 
father,  "  I  ^vill  send  the  girls  in,  and  wife  and 
I  will  go  into  our  own  room  and  pray  while 
you  talk."  I  felt  God  was  there  while  I  talked 
and  prayed.  One  received  Pike's  Persua- 
sives to  Early  Piety,  the  reading  of  which 
led  her  to  the  Saviour  soon  after;  the  other 
got  Baxter's  Call,  and  was  an  inquirer  during 
all  the  time  I  remained  there. 

I  cannot  find  words  to  express  the  joy  I 
felt  in  my  own  soul  at  the  close  of  this  day's 
work.    All  nature  seemed  to  rejoice  with  me, 


144  FIVE   YEARS 

and  I  fully  realized  tlie  promise,  "He  that 
wateretb.  sliall  be  watered." 

The  next  day  I  visited  eleven  famiHes, 
talked  and  prayed  and  sold  and  gave  books 
and  tracts  in  every  house.  In  almost  every 
house  some  feeling  was  manifested,  and  soon 
after  several  professed  religion.   Among  them 

was  a  Mrs.  M ,  who  told  me  it  was  the 

Anxious  Inquirer  that  led  her  to  Christ.  I 
visited  half  the  town  in  a  week,  and  sold  and 
gave  away  many  books  and  tracts.  Quite  a 
number  of  those  visited  showed  much  feeling 
while  I  talked  with  them. 

At  this  time  special  reHgious  services  were 
held  in  one  of  the  churches  that  had  but  Httle 
sympathy  at  that  time  T^ith  the  Tract  Society, 
or  any  thing  else  that  was  not  under  their 
o-wn^exclusive  control;  and  I  was  advised  to 
stop. my  work  till  their  meeting  closed,  for 
fear  they  might  say  I  was  proselyting.  I  at- 
tended all  their  meetings,  and  prayed  and 
exhorted  when  called  on.  Then-  meetings 
continued  two  weeks,  during  which  time 
twenty  professed  rehgion,  most  of  whom  I 
had  previously  visited. 

At  the  close  of  these  meetings,  I  told  the 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  145 

Rev.  Dr.  McE that  now  was  tlie  time  for 

him  to  have  meetings  in  his  church.  He  said 
he  was  not  able  to  do  any  extra  work,  and 
did  not  know  where  he  could  get  any  preach- 
er.    I  proposed  to  get  the  Eev.  R.  N.  D , 

who  was  then  laboring  as  a  colporteur  of  the 
Tract   Society  some   fifty   miles   distant,  to 

which  he  agreed,  and  I  wrote  to  Mr.  D 

to  come  on  a  certain  day.  Dui'ing  the  inter- 
yening  time  of  ten  daj's  I  visited  all  the  bal- 
ance of  the  town  and  held  prayer-meetings 
eyery  night.  The  meetings  became  more  and 
more  interesting,  and  rehgion  became  the 
theme  of  conyersation  in  eyery  circle. 

^Tien  Mr.  D came  pubHc  preaching 

was  held  eyery  night,  and  the  word  was  at- 
tended with  the  power  of  God.  Eyery  morn- 
ing we  had  a  prayer-meeting,  and  through 
the  day  yisited  the  inquirers  from  house  to 
house,  and  scattered  tracts.  By  the  end  of 
four  days  thirty-fiye  were  attending  the  meet- 
ing for  inquiry,  and  at  the  close  of  the  first 
week  thirty-three  had  professed  hope  in 
Chiist,  most  of  them  the  most  influential 
people  in  the  town. 

The  Eev.  Mr.  Y then  came  and  aided 

Five  y  10 


146  FIVE    YEARS 

anotlier  week,  at  the  close  of  which  forty-two 
were  added  to  the  church.  Thus  did  God 
carry  on  his  work  vnih.  the  humble  instru- 
ments he  had  chosen. 

One  young  lady  who  had  been  an  inquirer 
for  two  weeks,  told  us  at  last  she  did  not  care 
about  being  converted  then,  and  left  the 
meetings.  In  three  weeks  she  died.  Her 
last  words  were,  "  I  could  have  been  saved, 
but  I  rejected  God's  Spirit,  and  now  I  am 
lost." 

Another  came  sometimes  to  the  inquiry 
meetings,  but  owing  to  the  fact  that  she  was 
soon  to  marry  an  irrehgious  man,  put  off  her 
day  of  gi'ace.  In  a  few  weeks  the  day  of  her 
intended  marriage  came.  She  rose  in  the 
morning  in  usual  health  to  prepare  for  the 
ceremony,  but  before  night  her  costly  bridal 
dress  was  her  -winding-sheet. 

Foui'  miles  from  to^-n  Mr.  W ,  a  col- 
porteur, was  at  work  during  the  time  of  this 
meeting  in  the  town,  and  ten  were  there 
added  to  a  little  chiu'ch. 

I  have  been  thus  particular  in  stating  the 
facts  in  relation  to  this  work,  as  it  was  the 
starting  point  of  one  of  the  most  powerful 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  Uj 

reviyals  that  I  have  ever  witnessed.  It  ex- 
tended over  one  hundred  miles  square  of  a 
sparsely  populated  country,  in  which  near 
one  thousand  souls  were  converted  to  God 
within  about  four  months.  The  fidehty  and 
perseverance  in  the  service  of  Christ  of  those 
thus  brought  in,  is  the  best  evidence  that  this 
was  truly  the  work  of  God's  Spirit. 

At  the  close  of  these  cheering  labors  in  L — , 

I  went  to  the  town  of  U to  be  with  Mr. 

H at  a  sacramental  meeting,  and  take  a 

collection  for  the  Tract  Society.  He  is  one 
of  God's  ministers  that  does  his  work  faith- 
fully.    The  meeting  began  on  Friday  night. 

Mr.  H requested  me  to  occupy  the  time 

in  giving  an  account  of  the  great  work  at 

L ,  which  I  did.     Although  but  few  were 

present,  and  they  mostly  pujoils  in  the  acad- 
emy he  taught,  the  bare  relation  of  the  facts 
of  the  re^ival  at  L made  a  deep  impres- 
sion, and  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  liis 
son,  who  is  now  a  minister. 

The  next  morning  at  nine,  we  had  a  meet- 
ing for  prayer  and  exhortation,  at  which  there 

was  still  more  inj;erest.    At  eleven  Mr.  H 

preached.     At  night  I  conducted  the  service 


i48  FIVE  YEARS 

by  exliortation  and  prayer.  The  solemnity 
was  still  increased.  At  each  meeting  we  gave 
each  one  present  a  suitable  tract,  T\ith  a  word 
of  earnest  counsel. 

At  nine,  Sabbath  morning,  I  conducted  an- 
other prayer-meeting.     At  eleven,  Mr.  H 

preached  and  administered  the  communion. 
God  was  truly  there  in  great  power.  At 
three  we  had  a  meeting  for  prayer  agaiQ.  At 
night  the  chui'ch  was  full.  I  based  my  re- 
marks on  the  words,  "I  will  arise  and  go 
to  my  father."  I  saw  that  every  heart  was 
moved,  and  but  few  cheeks  were  di*y.     At  the 

close  of  my  remarks,  I  turned  to  Mr.  H , 

and  said  to  him,  "If  you  will  ask*them,  some 
anxious  souls  will  remain  for  instruction  and 
prayer."  The  result  was,  seven  inquirers  took' 
a  stand  on  the  Lord's  side  that  night.     This 

seemed  to  rouse  the  great  soul  of  Mr.  H to 

an  extraordinary  pitch  of  fervor,  and  led  to  the 
appointment  of  a  meetiag  the  next  morning. 

On  Monday  morning  we  both  exhorted,  and 
the  interest  was  deep.  At  three  we  held  an 
inquiry-meeting,  and  nine  attended.  At  night 
I  spoke  again ;  the  meeting  was  deeply  inter- 
esting. 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  149 

Tuesday  morning  the  prayer-meeting  was 
crowded,  and  in  tlie  afternoon  there  were 
seventeen  inquirers.  We  had  three '  services 
each  day,  the  one  at  three  only  for  inquir- 
ers ;  and  each  day  there  was  an  increase  of 

interest.     On  Saturday  morning  Mr.  H 

had  to  go  some  miles  to  another  preaching- 
place,  and  I  was  left  alone  on  Saturday  and 
the  Sabbath.  Sabbath,  at  three,  there  were 
twenty-seven  inquirers,  and  ten  were  indulg- 
ing a  hope  in  Christ.  During  the  next  week 
forty-two  professed  faith  in  Christ. 

In  the  whole  course  of  these  meetings  we 
kept  the  very  choicest  of  our  books  and  tracts 
in  the  hands  of  the  people.  .  One  observing 
Christian  said  to  me,  "  There  has  been  more 
^reading  here  on  the  subject  of  religion  in  th(5 
past  eighteen  days,  than  there  had  been  in 
three  years  before."  Quite  a  number  of  the 
inquirers  told  me  they  were  first  awakened 
by  reading  a  book  or  tract,  and  others  that 
they  were  gTeatly  aided  by  them  in  coming 
to  Christ.  Their  interest  in  these  pubHca- 
tions  was  shown  by  their  contributing  one 
hundred  dollars  on  one  of  the  Sabbaths  to 
aid  the  tract  and  colporteur  work. 


150  FIVE    YEARS 

Tliis  town  Tvas  one  of  the  \\-ickedest  in 
Western  Virginia,  and  had  for  years  been  a 
centre  of  infidehtj.  A  woi'thj  farmer  "^ho 
lived  near  told  me,  at  the  close  of  our  meet- 
ings, that  for  years  he  had  never  passed 
through  that  to^vn  T\dthout  hearing  oaths  and 
vulgar  songs;  "but  now,"  said  he,  "that  is 
all  stopped,  and  I  hear  them  singing  hymns 
of  praise  to  God."  This  to^Ti  will  now  com- 
pare favorably  with  any  other  within  my 
knowledge  for  piety  and  sobriety. 


I 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  151 


CHAPTEE  XVI. 

At  the  earnest  request  of  Mr.  H ,  I 

promised  to  meet  him  on  the  next  Sabbath 
at  one  of  his  country  churches,  about '  six 
miles  fi'om  town,  in  one  of  the  most  densely 
populated  and   wealthy  commitnities  in  aU 

Western  Virginia,  called  Mount  P .  It  was 

only  fourteen  miles  from  my  home  at  L . 

I  reached  the  church  a  little  before  the  hour 
of  service,  a  stranger  to  aU  except  a  few  who 
had  met  me  at  the  meetings  in  town.  The 
house,  although  large,  was  crowded,  and  I 
took  a  seat  in  the  back  part  of  the  house.     In 

a  few  minutes  3Ii\  H came  in  and  walked 

up  into  the  pulpit.  He  looked  sick  and  fee- 
ble, and  while  glancing  his  eye  over  the  house, 
saw  me,  and  beckoned  me  to  him.  He  was 
unable  to  speak  louder  than  a  whisper. 

Said  he,  "I  am  attacked  T\ith  bronchitis 
and  unable  to  preach,  and  you  must  preach." 
This  I  refused,  on  the  ground  that  I  had  no 
authority.  Said  he,  "I  wiU  give  you  the 
authority  here,  and  stand  between  you  and 


.^ 


152  FIVE    YEAKS 

danger."  He  arose,  and  \ritli  great  exertion 
told  the  people  that  he  had  never  had  such  a 
desu'e  to  preach  as  he  had  that  day,  but  the 
Lord  had  shut  his  mouth,  and  sent  me  to  do 
the  preaching,  for  which  he  was  yeiy  thankful. 

I  at  once  opened  with  singing  and  prayer, 
and*  announced  my  text,  "  Behold,  I  stand  at 
the  door  and  knock."  I  felt  that  the  thoughts 
and  words  were  not  mine,  but  dictated  by 
the  Holy  Ghost.  I  spoke  for  an  hoiu*.  The 
audience  was  still  as  the  gi-ave.  After  an  in- 
terval of  thirty  minutes,  as  was  the  custom, 
we  resumed  the  service.  My  text  in  the  after- 
noon was,  "Eemember  now  thy  Creator  in 
the  days  of  thy  youth."  The  feeling  was 
deep.  I  asked  the  anxious  to  remain  for  in- 
struction, and  twelve  remained.  At  night  I 
had  a  meeting  at  a  private  house,  where  gi'eat 
interest  was  manifested. 

At  the  earnest  recjuest  of  many,  services 
similar  to  those  of  the  Sabbath  were  contin- 
ued on  Monday  and  for  several  days  after- 
wards. On  Monday  morning,  when  I  came 
to  the  church,  there  was  a  crowd,  and  much 

to  my  joy  and  reUef,  Mr.  "W ,  one  of  our 

best  colporteurs,  was  there.     He  had  labored 


IN   THE   ALLEGHAXIES.  153 

faithfully  over  all  that  ground  but  a  feT\' 
weeks  before,  and  knew  almost  every  one 
in  that  region.  Although  very  diffident,  he 
conducted  the  morning  meeting  with  great 
acceptance.  I  spoke  at  eleven,  and  at  two; 
and  at  the  close  of  the  last  service  we  had 
eighteen  inquirers.  God  seemed  to  come 
down  as  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  Ten  of  the 
number  indulged  hope,  and  their  countenan- 
ces were  ht  up  with  joy. 

At  night  we  had  a  meeting  at  Mr.  D 's. 

One  half  could  not  get  into  the  house.  He 
had  a  son  that  was  desperately  wicked,  and 
had  done  all  in  his  power  to  oppose  the  work 
of  God.  During  the  time  of  the  service  he 
went  out  of  the  house  in  an  agony  of  convic- 
tion for  sin.  The  next  morning,  at  family 
jDrayers,  he  cried  out  in  the  bitterness  of  his 
anguish,  "God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner." 
A  sister  of  his,  that  had  been  a  very  thought- 
less gu-1,  also  cried  out  in  great  distress. 
This  seemed  instantly  to  electrify  the  whole 
family.  The  place  seemed  awful  with  the 
majesty  of  God.  I  felt  as  much  of  the  divine 
glory  as  I  could  bear.  Such  a  scene  I  had 
never   -s^-itnessed.      Soon    the   whole   family 


154  FIVE    YEARS 

were  embraced  in  each  other's  arms,  rejoicing 
in  hope  of  eternal  life.  We  seemed  to  be  in 
the  inner  sanctuary  and  the  most  holy  place. 
Although  near  fourteen  years  have  since 
passed,  while  I  describe  this  scene  it  fires  my 
own  soul  afresh. 

Though  it  was  a  hurried  season  of  the  year 
with  farmers, .  work  was  suspended,  ploughs 
were  stopped,  white  and  black  were  in  the 
church,  or  as  near  in  as  they  could  get,  as 
the  church  would  not  hold  more  than  half  that 
came. 

The  Tuesday  morning  prayer-meeting  was 
one  of  the  best  I  ever  attended.     At  eleven 

the  Eev.  Mr.  H returned,  and  preached 

one  of  the  best  of  sermons.  In  the  afternoon 
I  spoke  again.  There  were  thirty-six  more 
inquu-ers,  and  twelve  more  were  indulging 
hope. 

On  Friday  night  I  held  a  meeting  at  the 

house  of  a  Dr.  N ,  who  was  a  man  of  the 

world.  I  spoke  on  the  hroad  road  and  icide 
gate.  The  doctor  was  awakened  that  night, 
and  has  ever  since  dated  his  first  impressions 
on  religious  subjects  to  that  time ;  and  two 
yoimg  men,  one  of  them  since  educated  for 


IX    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  155 

the  ministry,  likewise  dated  their  conversion 
the  same  night. 

At    eleven   the   next    morning    Eev.    Mr. 

^ preached,  and  in  the  afteri^pon  Dr. 

•McE .    At  the  close  of  this  service,  sixtj- 

two  were  added  to  the  chiu'ch  on  j)rofession 
of  their  faith. 

When  the  hour  for  pnbhc  worship  arrived 
^on  Sabbath  morning,  one.  half  could  not  enter 
the  church.  It  was  arranged  that  I  should 
invite  those  who  could  not  get  in  to  assemble 
out  of  hearing  of  the  church  and  preach  to 
them.  I  selected  the  gTaveyard,  where  most 
of  the  graves  had  enclosures  of  rails  around 
and  over  them.  The  circumstance  suggested 
my  text :  "Man  dieth,  and  wasteth  away;  yea, 
man  giveth  up  the  ghost,  and  where  is  he  ?" 
I  felt  as  I  never  did  before,  standing  among 
the  dead  and  the  living,  and  spoke  as  I  never 
did  before  or  since.  Some  of  the  "wickedest 
men  in  all  the  country  were  before  me. 

One  gray-headed  sinner  seventy  years  old, 
who  sat  on  the  rails  which  were  around  the 
graves  of  his  wife  and  children,  shook  as  if 
he  had  the  ague.  A  year  after,  he  died ;  and 
often,  when  he  was  on  his  death-bed,  spoke 


156    ^  FIVE    YEARS 

with  deep  sorrow  of  resisting  God's  Spirit  at 
tliat  time.  At  tlie  close  of  the  services  in  tlie 
church  a  collection  of  §120  was  taken  up  for 
the  Trapt  Society,  which  was  five  times  as 
much  as  could  have  been  obtained  a  week 
before.  Books  and  tracts  were  cumulated 
every  day  in  these  meetings,  and  read  with 
interest.  Twenty  persons  told  me  that  books 
or  tracts  were  the  means  of  either  awaken- 
ing them,  or  directing  them  to  Christ.  In 
addition  to  the  sixty-two  added  to  the  church 
as  above,  twenty-four  who  obtained  a  hope 
at  these  meetings  joined  a  church  of  another 
denomination  a  mile  distant. 

Only  two  miles  from  the  above  meetings, 
was  the  church  of  a  large  congregation  of 
Seceders.  Till  this  time  they  had  not  gone 
to  hear  any  preacher  but  their  own,  nor  ad- 
mitted any  other  denomination  to  preach  in 
their  church.  But  so  great  was  this  work 
that  some  of  their  young  people  had  been 
drawn  away,  and  gained  a  hope  in  Christ, 
but  kept  it  secret.  Their  pastor,  Kev.  Mt. 
McG ,  came  himself  on  Saturday,  and  be- 
came deeply  moved  with  what  he  saw  and 
heard.     In  the  evening  Kev.  Mr.  H told 


IN   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  157 

him  there  were  many  still  anxious  about  their 
souls,  and  not  a  few  of  them  were  among  his 
own  people;  "and  now,"  said  he,  "this  har- 
vest must  be  gathered,  and  if  you  will  go  on 
with  a  meeting  next  week  I  ..ill  close  my 
meetings  to-morrow."  This  arrangement  was 
made,  and  it  was  agreed  that  I  should  go  and 

assist  jMi\  McG on  the  afternoon  of  the 

next  day,  after  the  services  in  that  church 
should  be  closed. 

At  four  o'clock  the  Seceder  church  was 
crowded,  and  all  the  ardor  of  feeling  seemed 
to  come  along  with  the  people.     Key.  Mr. 

McG was  very  feeble  in  health,  but  was 

a  devoted  servant  of  God ;  and  it  was  ar- 
ranged that  he  was  to  take  a  text  and  speak 
ten  minutes,  and  I  was  then  to  fill  up  the 
hour.  After  that  service  we  held  another  in 
a  private  house  at  night. 

The  next  morning  at  nine,  we  had  the  house 
full  at  the  prayer-meeting.  At  eleven,  Mr. 
McG preached  ten  minutes,  and  I  fol- 
lowed; and  after  the  service  all  were  siqiphed 
with  tracts.  During  the  afternoon  service 
the  presence  of  God  seemed  to  move  every 
heart.     And   as  I  beheve   that  when  God 


158  FIVE    YEARS 

moves  on  men's  hearts,  they  ought  to  move 
too  as  the  prodigal  did,  when  I  had  ceased 
speaking,  and  the  congregation  were  singing 
the  eighty-fourth  Psahn,  Rouse's  version,  I 

said  to  Mr.  McG that  I  had  no  doubt 

but  if  an  invitation  was  given  some  would  re- 
main for  instruction.  He  feared  it  would  not 
be  acceptable  to  the  officers  of  the  church, 
all  of  whom  had  come  from  Scotland,  and 
had  been  accustomed  to  hear  preaching  only 
fi'om  Seceders,  and  considered  occasional  hear- 
ing an  offence.  But  he  said  he  would  not  in- 
terfere with  what  I  thought  was  duty. 

As  soon  as  the  song  was  simg,  I  arose  and 
told  them  that  a  piece  of  old  Scotch  history 
had  just  come  into  my  mind.  That  over  one 
hundred  years  ago,  previous  to  their  com- 
munion occasions,  the  minister  at  the  close 
of  his  services  for  some  days  would  invite  all 
that  intended  to  com  mime  for  the  fii'st  time 
to  remain  for  instniction  in  regard  to  tlieir 
duties ;  and  that  for  want  of  that  many  came 
to  the  Lord's  table  who  were  ignorant  of  the 
nature  of  the  ordinance.  And  as  I  beheved 
there  were  a  number  who  c6ntemj)lated  join- 
ing the  church  and  going  to  the  communion 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  159 

table  on  the  next  Sabbath  for  the  first  time, 
I  would  ask  all  such  to  remain  after  the  con- 
gregation Tvas  dismissed,  to  receive  such  in- 
struction as  should  be  given.  After  some 
agitation  all  was  quiet,  and  I  told  them  the 
first  point  of  inquiry  for  them  was,  to  know  if 
they  were  born  again,  and  spoke  some  twenty 
minutes  on  the  nature  and  evidences  of  re- 
generation. The  old  elders  sobbed  aloud; 
and  as  soon  as  the  services  were  closed,  they 
had  me  by  the  hand,  and  said,  "  That  is  just 
what  our  young  people  need."  The  oldest  el- 
der, whose  daughter  was  among  the  inquirers, 
came  up  leaning  on  his  staff,  and  said,  "  That 
did  my  soul  good."  We  had  an  appointment 
that  night  five  miles  distant,  and  this  old  man 
went  all  the  way  with  me  on  horseback.  The 
house  was  crowded.     Many  were  awakened, 

and  among  them  Mr.  B the  proprietor, 

who  was  a  hardened  sinner  of  fifty  years. 
He  soon  professed  his  faith  in  Christ. 

The  next  morning  this  old  elder,  Mr.  M , 

said  to  me,  "  Oh,  Mr.  C ,  I  slept  none  last 

night.  I  have  had  a  foretaste  of  heaven,  and 
long  to  be  there.  I  have  never  experienced 
religious  joy  till  last  night;  and  now  I  have 


160  FIVE    YEARS 

one  request  to  make,  and  deny  me  not,  that 
is,  that  yon  commune  with  me  next  Sab- 
bath." 

The  next  day  we  had  similar  services,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  last  service  I  told  them  as 
all  the  congregation  seemed  desirous  to  hear 
what  was  said  to  those  wishing  to  consider 
their  duty  to  join  the  chui'ch,  such  would 
come  forward  while  we  simg  the  twenty- 
third  Psalm.  Sixteen  thus  presented  them- 
selves, and  Eev.  Mr.  McG spoke  to  them 

with  a  heavenly  unction.  The  next  day  there 
were  twejity-eight  inquirers,  and  the  next  day 
thirty-nine,  of  whom  twenty-two  appeared  to 
be  indulging  a  good  hope  in  Christ.  All  the 
business  of  the  field  was  suspended,  and  many 
were  saying  it  was- the  dawn  of  the  day  of 
glory  to  the  chiQ'ch.  As  the  time  had  arriv- 
ed for  me  to  visit  another  place  fifty  miles 
distant,  to  engage  in  similar  labors,  the  pas- 
tor told  them  he  wanted  them  to  make  a 
thank-offering  to  the  Tract  Society,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  $80  was  on  the  table,  and  a  pres- 
ent of  $20  to  me.  On  the  Sabbath  fifty-six 
were  added  to  the  church,  and  more  than 
thirty  to  a  Methodist  chui'ch  near  by. 


1 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  161 

Foiu'teen  months  after,  I  visited  this  cliurcli 
again.  The  presence  of  God  was  still  there, 
and  many  said  they  felt  as  if  they  were  ready 
to  begin  again  where  they  had  left  off  four- 
teen months  before.  The  strong  prejudices 
against  worshipping  with  other  Christians 
were  among  the  things  that  had  been. 

During  my  brief  stay  many  incidents  were 
related  to  me.  One  young  man  told  me  it  was 
"Advice  to  a  Married  Couple"  that  awaken- 
ed him,  as  he  was  soon  to  be  married.  Three 
of  the  anxious  got  rehef  by  reading  the  tract 
"  What  is  it  to  Believe  in  Christ  ?"  A  man 
well  acquainted  in  the  community  told  me 
thirty  family  altars  were  reared  on  one  Sab- 
bath night. 

In  one  instance  two  families  lived  in  one 
house,  and  both  the  men  and  their  wives  had 
joined  the  church.  They  felt  that  they  must 
have  family  worship,  but  neither  was  willing 
to  pray.  One  said  he  could  do  the  singing, 
and  the  other  said  he  would  read  the  Bible. 
At  last  they  united  in  ashing  a  lame  negro 
man  that  was  pious,  and  he  led  in  prayer. 

There  is  probably  no  region  of  our  coun- 
try, when  aU  the  difficulties  are  considered, 

Fire  Year*.  1 1 


162  FIVE    YEARS 

Avliere  tlie  Tract  Society  and  colporteurs 
have  clone  as  niucli  real  good  as  in  Western 
Virginia.  Some  of  the  most  godly  men  we 
ever  employed  had  visited  every  house  again 
and  again,  and  most  of  the  books  to  be  found 
in  the  houses  vrere  the  Society's  publications. 
In  some  of  the  poorer  districts  they  were 
even  the  only  school-books.  I  have  heard  of 
schools  in  those  mountains  where  one  had 
Bunyan,  another  Baxter's  Call,  or  Saints' 
Best,  and  so  on  all  thi'ough  the  school.  We 
can  say  that  in  many  jDlaces  the  work  has 
made  the  wilderness  and  the  soKtary  place 
rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose. 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  163 


CHAPTEE   XVII. 

Aftee  one  night's  rest  at  liome,  I  left  the 

next  morning  for  C ,  thirty  miles  distant, 

to  meet  my  Mend  Eev.  Mr.  D ,  who  was 

with  ns  at  the  commencement  of  the  meet- 
ings at  L ,  and  engage  in  another  meet- 
ing.    The  Eev.  Mr.  P ,  who  was  pastor  at 

that  place,  was  likewise  a  colporteur  of  the 
Tract  Society,  and  had  five  little  churches  in 
as  many  different  communities  in  the  county. 

So  he  left  us  to  hold  a  meeting  in  C , 

while  he  was  laboring  in  other  portions  of 
his  field. 

I  had  on  several  occasions  passed  through 
this  town,  which,  in  a  rehgious  view,  was  one 
of  the  darkest  I  have  ever  visited.  I  saw  the 
men,  most  of  them  young  men,  while  Mr. 

P was  preaching  to  a  few,  mostly  women, 

standing  all  round  the  church  with  their  heads 
in  the  windows,  talking  aloud,  and  even  swear- 
ing profanely,  till  the  preacher's  voice  could 
scarcely  be  heard.    As  Mr.  D was  a 


164  FIVE    YEARS 

stranger  tliere^  I  informed  him  that  we  might 
expect  open  opposition.  The  meetings  were 
to  be  conducted  in  the  same  way  as  those  to 
which  I  have  ah'eady  alluded. 

After  warning  the  x^eople  of  the  impropri- 
&tj  of  such  conduct,  and  insisting  that  if  they 
attended  the  services,  they  should  come  into 
the  church,  IMr.  D j)reached,  and  I  fol- 
lowed by  telling  of  the  Lord's  work  in  the 
places  where  I  had  been.  A  deep  solemnity 
seemed  to  fall  on  every  soul,  and  we  felt  God 
was  there.  All  present  were  well  supplied 
with  tracts. 

The  next  day  our  meetings  were  very  sol- 
emn, and  still  more  so  at  night,  when  there 
were  five  anxiously  inquiring  for  salvation. 
By  the  next  night  most  of  the  females  began 
to  feel  very  deeply,  and  some  young  men 
began  to  interrupt  by  their  talking;  but  I 
rebuked  them  most  solemnly,  and  we  had  no 
more  interruptions  during  that  meeting,  and 
I  am  happy  to  say  there  have  been  none  since 
in  that  place. 

This  meeting  began  on  Thursday  night, 
and  by  Monday  twenty-two  had  professed 
hope  in  Christ.    Among  the  number  was  one 


IN   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  165 

man  sixty  years  old.  He  had  been  intem- 
perate forty  years.  Tlioiigli  lie  was  tlien  so 
ignorant  that  he  did  not  know  who  was  the 
Saviour  of  sinners,  and  did  not  know  one 
letter  of  the  alphabet,  he  still  Hyes  a  monu- 
ment of  gTace. 

One  young  lady  of  fortune,  who  was  there 
at  school,  and  whose  anxiety  about  her  soul 
bordered  on  despair,  gained  a  hope  on  Satur- 
day. On  the  next  Saturday  she  joined  the 
chui'ch,  and  then  told  her  companions,  "I 
will  go  to  the  Lord's  table  to-morrow ;  it  may 
be  my  last  Sabbath  on  earth."  On  Monday 
morning  she  came  to  school  apparently  in  her 
usual  health,  and  seemed  deej)ly  affected  by 
the  opening  prayer ;  but  soon  complained  of 
being  unwell,  went  to  her  boarding-house, 
and  in  forty-eight  hours  she  was  numbered 
with  the  dead,  Grace  and  glory  came  very 
near  together. 

After  a  few  days  of  rest,  at  the  request  of 

the  Eev.  Mr.  H ,  to  whom  I  have  alluded 

at  the  town  of  IT ,  I  met  him  in  an  old 

log-church  on  Wolf  Creek,  one  of  his  preach- 
ing-places. I  left  home  in  the  morning,  rode 
twenty-four  miles,  and  reached  the  place  at 


166  FIVE    TEARS 

one.     Mr.  H was  preaclnng  to  a  small 

congi-egation,  as  it  was  now  tlie  beginning 
of  liarvest.  After  an  interval  of  thirty  min- 
utes, I  addressed  the  people.  The  next  day 
was  Satui-day.  The  house  was  full;  and  in 
the  eyening  we  had  ^\e  inquirers.  Sabbath 
morning  Mr.  H preached  with  great  pow- 
er, and  then  left  for  another  appointment, 
with  the  expectation  of  returning  on  Monday. 
In  the  mean  time  I  was  to  go  on  with  the 
services.  In  the  evening  I  had  thirteen  in- 
quirers ;  and  among  them  was  Colonel  H , 

fifty  years  old,  and  Major  B ,  sixty-eight, 

two  men  of  the  largest  wealth  and  highest 
standing  in  that  community,  who  had  been 
remarkable  instances  of  grieving  the  Spirit 
of  God.  I  related  in  their  hearing  the  fact 
of  what  an  aged  man  had  told  me  about  his 
grieving  the  Spu'it.  I  saw  it  affected  them 
both  very  deeply.  They  told  me  they  had 
felt  all  that  that  man  did  whose  case  I  had  de- 
scribed, and  that  they  had  now  made  up  their 
minds  to  seek  Chi'ist.  In  a  few  days  both 
were  hoiking  in  Christ;  and  two  years  ago 
they  had  continued  active  Christians. 

Becoming  exhausted,  almost  as  if  I  was  at 


IN    THE    ALLEGHAXIES.  16T 

death's  door,  I  left  for  home ;  but  Eev.  Mr. 

H continued  the  meetings.     Such  was 

the  interest  awakened,  that  daily  labor  in  the 
harvest-field  was  entirely  suspended.  Mas- 
ters and  servants  were  all  at  the  same  mercy- 
seat.  God  was  there;  the  world  was  lost 
sight  of,  and  eternal  things  took  its  place. 
Everybody  had  a  tract  in  hand.  You  could 
see  them  reading  on  their  way  home ;  some 
in  carriages,  some  on  horseback,  and  others 
on  foot.  The  result  was,  thirty-six  were  add- 
ed to  that  little  church,  and  many  others  to 
the  other  churches  in  that  region  of  country.  I 
soon  learned  that  one  wild,  thoughtless  young 
woman  was  awakened  by  reading  a  tract,  and 
she  is  now  one  of  the  jnothers  in  Israel. 
I  had  received  several  letters  from  the  Rev. 

Mr.  C ,  an  aged  man  who  had  moved  to 

Fayette  county,  to  preach  in  a  very  destitute 
region,  near  the  celebrated  Haiclcs  Nest,  or 
3IarshcdVs  Fillar,  a  chff  or  precipice  of  about 
one  thousand  feet  perpendicular  height,  hang- 
ing over  IS'ew  Eiver,  ten  miles  from  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Gauley.  After  a  day  of  rest,  I 
took  the  stage,  and  at  the  end  of  fifty  miles 
reached  the  place.     On  Friday  morning  the 


168  FIVE    YEARS 

meeting  began  in  the  woods.  No  cliurcli  was 
near;  but  an  arbor  was  made  bj  putting  up 
poles  and  covering  them  Tvith  green  bushes. 
When  I  came  it  rained,  and  only  about  thir- 
ty were  present ;  but  God  was  there  with  his 
gracious  power.  We  had  a  meeting  in  the 
evening  at  one  of  the  neighboring  cabins, 
and  a  crowd  was  collected. 

The  next  morning  we  met  at  the  arbor 
The  day  was  fair  and  beautiful,  and  the  crowd 
great.  The  Lord  helped  me  greatly  in  the 
service.  At  the  interval  I  scattered  tracts 
fi-eely,  and  set  all  to  reading  who  could  read. 
At  the  close  of  the  afternoon  service  there 
were  eleven  anxious  inquirers.  On  Sabbath 
morning  we  met  at  nine  for  prayer.  By 
eleven  o'clock  a  thousand  people  had  assem- 
bled ;  and  after  the  evening  service,  seventeen 
came  out  for  instruction.  On  Monday  the 
communion  was  to  be  administered,  and  sev- 
enteen were  added  to  the  Lord's  people.  The 
Lord  was  there  in  his  mercy.  After  the  af- 
ternoon service  nineteen  more  came  out  as 
inquirers,  among  them  men  of  sixty  years 
and  from  that  down  to  boys,  most  of  whom 
professed  rehgion  soon  after.     A  church  was 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  169 

soon  after  organized,  wliicli  still  lives.  The 
blessed  influence  spread  for  miles  around, 
and  all  denominations  shared  in  the  glorious 
work.  I  shall  ever  believe  the  way  was  pre- 
pared by  a  faithful  colporteur,  who  had  been 
over  the  ground  a  few  months  before. 

Mr.  P ,  an  elder  in  a  vacant  church 

called  Locust  Bottom,  had  applied  to  the 

Kev.  Mr.  P to  come  and  administer  the 

communion  in  that  church,  and  to  bring  me 
with  him.  The  meeting  was  to  begin  on  the 
Friday  before  the  third  Sabbath  in  August. 
I  left  home  on  Thursday  morning,  and  reach- 
ed the  place,  fifty-four  miles  distant,  at  noon 
the  next  day.  In  the  afternoon  I  addressed 
the  audience  by  telling  them  what  the  Lord 
had  done  in  so  many  other  places,  and  that 
I  felt  assured  if  they  would  seek  him  with 
their  whole  hearts  he  would  bless  them  too. 

The  next  morning  we  were  assembled  at 
nine  for  prayer  and  exhortation.     At  eleven 

Mr.  C ,  a  student  of  divinity,  spoke  with 

much  fervor.  After  recess  I  spoke  with  much 
liberty,  and  five  came  out  as  inquirers.  "We 
held  meetings  at  night  in  two  places;  both 
well  attended,  and  several  were  awakened. 


ItO  FIVE    YEARS 

The  Sabbath  morning  prayer -meeting  was 
crowded.     The  communion  was  administered 

by  Mr.  P ;  and  after  recess  I  spoke  again, 

and  we  had  nine  inquirers.  The  next  morn- 
ing we  had  a  crowd,  and  there  were  clear  indi- 
cations of  the  presence  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

Some  weeks  previoiis,  Mr.  W -,  a  col- 
porteur to  whom  I  have  alluded,  had  been  all 
through  this  region,  and  circulated  books. 

A  daughter  of  Colonel  S ,  one  of  the  elders, 

became  awakened  by  reading  one  of  them,  and 
her  state  of  mind  had  aroused  some  of  her 
friends  and  companions,  who  were  among 
those  most  deeply  concerned;  and  it  was 
agreed  to  hold  the  evening  meeting  at  the 
colonel's,  though  four  miles  distant. 

In  addition  to  the  colonel's  large  family,  a 
number  of  others  were  present,  all  seeking 
peace  with  God.  After  tea  was  over  we  were 
all  seated  in  a  large  parlor,  to  the  number 

of  at  least  twenty.     As  Mr.  C expected 

soon  to  leave,  I  asked  him  to  lead  us  in  prayer, 
and  esjDecially  to  remember  the  anxious  souls 
in  the  room.  At  the  close  of  the  prayer,  one 
of  the  colonel's  daughters  was  sobbing  as  if 
she  would  break  her  heart.     I  sat  down  be- 


IN  ,THE   ALLEaHANIES.  171 

side  her,  and  pointed  lier  to  Jesns  wlio  died 
for  sinners.  She  looked  at  me  a  moment,  and 
then  sprang  into  her  mother's  arms,  and  said, 
"Oh,  mother,  I  have  found  Jesus."  But  a 
short  time  had  elapsed,  when  a  daughter-in- 
law  of  Mrs.  S went  to  her  and  said,  "  Oh, 

mother,  I  have  found  the  Saviour  too."  Soon 
the  wife  of  one  of  the  elders  who  was  there 

cried,   "Oh,   Mrs.    S ,   the    Sa^dour  has 

blessed  me  too.  Oh,  what  a  Saviour  I  have 
found."  This  woman  had  been  so  opposed 
to  rehgion  that  her  husband  could  not  haye 
family  prayers.  All  these  three  had  been 
awakened  by  reading  tracts.  During  all  this 
time  the  old  gTandmother,  ninety  years  old, 
and  for  over  seventy  years  a  follower  of  Christ, 
was  walking  through  the  house  saying,  "  Oh, 

Mr.  C ,  is  not  this  heaven  ?  my  poor  soul 

can  bear  no  more  of  the  divine  glory." 

In  a  short  time  Colonel  S ,  who  had 

been  absent,  returned.  As  soon  as  his  daugh- 
ter saw  him  she  was  in  his  arms,  saying,  "  Oh, 
my  dear  father,  your  prayers  are  answered; 
I  have  found  Jesus." 

By  this  time  the  news  had  spread  all  over 
the  farm,  and  more  than  fifty  blacks  of  all 


172  FIVE    YEARS 

ages  were  in  and  round  the  house.     The  old 

mother  of  Col.  S said  to  me,  "  Oh,  Mr. 

C ,  wont  jon  preach  to  these  poor  souls?" 

"Certainly,"  said  I;  and  in  a  few  minutes  a 
large  room  was  crowded  with  them.  I  stood 
in  the  door,  with  the  old  mother  holding  me 
by  the  arm,  and  announced  the  words,  "  Be- 
hold, I  bring  you  glad  tidings  of  gTeat  joy 
which  shall  be  to  all  people."  The  negroes 
soon  became  so  excited  they  could  hardly  con- 
tain themselves.  Some  were  on  thek  knees 
praying,  and  others  clapping  their  hands. 
The  old  lady  imdertook  to  keep  them  in  or- 
der ;  but  her  own  heart  became  so  deeply  im- 
pressed, that  her  bodily  strength  sunk  under 
it.  The  scene  was  one  that  neither  tongue 
nor  pen  can  describe.  No  doubt  some  who 
have  never  seen  or  felt  any  thing  like  this, 
will  call  it  enthusiasm ;  but  if  it  was,  I  would 
wish  io  hve  and  die  in  the  midst  of  such  en- 
thusiasm. This  was  one  of  the  most  intel- 
ligent families  in  that  community — all  edu- 
cated and  refined,  and  strict  Presbyterians. 
I  have  found  but  few  such  famihes. 

The  next  morning  we  all  repaired  to  the 
church,  where  I  was  met  by  Mr.  "W ,  the 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  113 

colporteur  whom  I  have  mentioned.  Before 
that  day's  meeting  closed  eight  more  pro- 
fessed hope.     That  night  I  had  a  meeting  at 

a  Mr.  C 's,  who  was  a  professed  atheist, 

but  within  a  few  days  after,  was  numbered 
among  God's  people. 

The  next  day  the  house  was  crowded  be- 
low with  whites,  and  the  gallery  with  blacks. 
The  presence  of  God  seemed  to  be  with  every 
soul.  There  were  in  the  house  two  men, 
brothers,  of  large  wealth  and  much  intelli- 
gence, both  unmarried  and  somewhat  dissi- 
pated. For  two  days  they  had  been  deeply 
concerned,  and  their,  pious  Mends  were  ear- 
nest in  prayer  for  them.  Just  as  I  was  clos- 
ing my  last  discourse  in  the  eyening,  when 
there  was  scarce  a  dry  cheek  in  the  house,  a 
negro  who  was  subject  to  fits,  fell  in  a  fit  in 
the  gallery,  and  made  the  most  unearthly 
noise  I  ever  heard.  All  fled  fi-om  the  house 
with  fright,  thinking  the  house  was  falling. 
These  two  brothers,  when  they  went  out,  said 
they  were  glad  at  what  had  happened,  for  if 
they  had  remained  any  longer  they  would  have 
been  compelled  to  yield  to  the  Spirit  of  God. 
They  both  went  away,  and  never  returned ; 


lU  FIVE   YEARS 

and  said  often  afterwards  that  they  sealed 
their  damnation  that  day.  Each  of  them  died 
a  horrible  death  with  delirium  tremens. 

I  exhorted  three  or  four  times  each  day 

throughout  aU  the  week,  and  brother  W 

scattered  books  and  tracts,  and  talked  and 
prayed.  Twenty -two  were  added  to  that 
church,  and  as  many  more  joined  other 
churches.  Before  this  meeting  began,  that 
church  was  nearly  broken  up,  and  in  six 
months  after,  the  student  to  whom  I  have 
alluded  was  the  pastor. 

Ten  years  after,  as  I  was  passing  through 
this  region  in  a  stage,  one  of  my  trayelling 
companions  told  me  he  was  one  of  the  con- 
verts at  a  place  where  I  had  labored.  We 
were  alone  in  the  stage  when  we  reached  the 
place  of  crossing  a  river  near  this  chui'ch. 
The  driver  stopped  to  water  his  horses,  and 
I  handed  tracts  to  two  men  that  were  work- 
ing at  the  edge  of  the  river.  They  looked  at 
me  a  moment,  and  then  caught  my  hands: 

"Oh,  this  is  Mr.  C .     It  was  your  tracts 

and  labors  that  God  blessed  to  save  our 
souls."  The  stage-diiver  di'opped  his  bucket 
and  rushed  to  me :  "  Oh,  is  it  possible  I  have 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  1*15 

been  hauling  Mr.  C and  did  not  know  it? 

It  was  youi'  tracts  and  labors  whicli  you  be- 
gan in  the  rain  in  Fayette  county  that  God 
blessed  to  my  soul."  Here  were  four  men 
who  had  been  led  to  Christ  at  different  places, 
and  now  had  met  the  one  whom  they  called 
the  instrument  of  their  salvation.  To  God 
alone  be  all  the  glory. 


176  FIVE    YEARS 


CHAPTEE  XYIII. 

As,  in  the  providence  of  God,  I  have  been 
brouglit  into  contact  with  thousands  of  per- 
.sons  who  have  told  me  with  much  candor 
the  history  of  their  own  minds,  and  con- 
versed freely  in  reference  to  the  all-important 
subject  of  their  salvation,  I  have  thought  it  to 
be  my  duty  to  record  some  of  the  facts  I  have 
met,  for  the  benefit  and  warning  of  others. 
That  there  is  a  point  when  the  Holy  Spirit, 
if  wilfully  and  perseveringly  resisted,  ceases 
to  strive  with  man,  no  one  doubts  who  be- 
lieves in  his  renewing  and  sanctifying  agency ; 
but  too  many  take  it  for  granted  that  this 
point  is  not  reached  tiU  the  close  of  life,  and 
neglect  or  resist  the  strivings  of  the  Spirit 
till  he  gives  them  up  to  hardness  of  heart 
and  blindness  of  mind,  perhaps  many  years 
before  their  earthly  existence  has  terminated. 

The  first  case  I  shall  mention  is  that  of  a 
woman  about  thirty  years  of  age,  with  whom 
I  conversed  in  the  presence  of  her  mother.  I 
inquired  if  she  was  a  member  of  any  church. 


IN   THE    ALLEGHANIES.  Itt 

She  answered,  "  Ko."  I  asked  if  slie  had  not 
at  some  time  felt  concern  for  her  salvation. 
"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I  think  but  few  have  been 
more  anxious  on  the  subject  than  I  was  once." 
I  asked  at  what  period  of  her  life  this  oc- 
curred, when  she  gave  me  the  following  ac- 
count of  God's  deahngs  with  her.  "  When  I 
was  about  fifteen  years  old,  I  felt  that  I  was 
a  great  sinner  in  the  sight  of  God.  Often 
my  distress  was  so  great  that  I  could  not 
sleep ;  and  for  three  years  I  seldom  had 
peace  for  a  "week  at  a  time.  I  knew  that  the 
Holy  Sx^irit  was  striving  with  me,  and  that  I 
ought  to  yield  my  heart  to  his  influence ;  but 
I  thought  it  would  cut  off  my  pleasures  in 
the  midst  of  youllh.  I  tried  to  banish  the 
thoughts  of  eternity;  but  they  would  still 
return  and  interrupt  my  pleasure;  I  tried 
reading  novels  and  romances  ;  they  gave  me 
relief  for  a  while,  but  my  distress  returned. 
At  last  I  went  to  the  baHroom — and  I  have 
never  since  had  such  feelings  as  before." 
"And  have  you  no  fears,"  said  I,  "that  you 
have  grieved  away  the  Spirit  of  God  for 
ever?"  "Yes,"  she  replied,  "I  have  no  doubt 
of  that,  and  that  I  shall  be  lost."    I  proceed- 

Five  Years.  1 2 


ITS  FIVE   YEABS 

ed  to  describe  the  state  and  miserr  of  the 
lost,  and  appealed  to  her,  by  the  prayers  of 
her  mother  and  the  tears  which  were  then 
falling  fi'om  her  simten  eyes,  by  the  danger 
of  an  eternal  separation  £i*om  pious  friends, 
by  the  glories  of  heaven  and  the  agonies  of 
the  Son  of  God,  now  to  make  her  peace  with 
him  and  be  saved.  "All  this,'*  she  calmly 
rephed,  "has  been  tried  npon  me  before. 
Xothing  that  yon  or  any  other  man  can  say 
on  that  subject,  can  move  me  now.  My  doom 
is  fixed-"' 

Another  case  was  that  of  Mr.  B -,  who 

was  over  seventy  years  old,  and  Hving  an  un- 
godly hfe.  I  approached  him  with  kindness, 
and  at  length  he  conversed  freely.  I  spoke 
of  the  goodness  of  God  to  him  in  his  ad- 
vanced years,  and  asked  if  he  hoped  he  had 
an  interest  in  Christ.  He  rephed,  "  Xo."  I 
asked  if  he  received  the  Bible  as  the  word  of 
God.  He  answered,  "Yes.'*  I  said,  "The 
Bible  teaches  that  a  man  must  be  bom  again 
before  he  can  enter  the  kingdom  of  God ;  do 
you  think  you  have  experienced  that  change?" 
"No,"  said  he,  "I  never  have."  I  saw  that 
he  was  inteUigent,  and  inquired  if  no  "  still 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  179 

small  voice"  had  ever  wMspered  to  liim, 
"Son,  give  me  tlij  heart?"  "Yes,"  said  he, 
"  often.  I  used  to  feel,  bnt  for  many  years  I 
have  not  felt  as  I  did  when  I  was  young.  I 
then  had  some  very  serious  times."  I  asked 
at  what  period  he  had  felt  most  deeply  the 
importance  of  religion.  He  replied,  "  When 
I  was  seventeen  I  began  to  feel  deeply  at 
times,  and  this  continued  for  two  or  three 
years ;  but  I  determined  to  put  it  off  till  I 
should  be  settled  in  life.  After  I  was  mar- 
ried, I  reflected  that  the  time  had  come  when 
I  had  promised  to  attend  to  rehgion ;  but  I 
had  bought  this  farm,  and  I  thought  it  would 
not  suit  me  to  become  religious  till  it  was 
paid  for,  as  some  time  would  have  to  be  de- 
voted to  attend  church,  and  also  some  ^- 
pense.  I  then  resolved  to  put  it  off  ten  years ; 
but  when  the  ten  years  came  round,  I  thought 
no  more  about  it.  I  often  try  to  think,  but  I 
cannot  keep  my  mind  on  the  subject  one 
moment."  I  urged  him  by  all  the  terrors  of 
dying  an  enemy  of  God,  to  set  about  the  work 
of  repentance.  "  It  is  too  late,"  said  he,  "  I 
believe  my  doom  is  sealed;  and  it  is  just  that 
it  should  be  so,  for  the  Spirit  strove  long  with . 


180  FIVE    YEAES 

me,  but  I  refused."  I  then  tiu-ned  to  his  chil- 
dren, young  men  and  young  women  who  were 
around  him,  and  entreated  them  not  to  put 
off  the  subject  of  rehgion,  or  giieye  the  Spii'it 
of  God  in  their  youthful  days.  The  old  man 
added,  "Mind  that.  If  I  had  attended  to  it 
then,  it  would  have  been  well  T\ith  me  to- 
day ;  but  now  it  is  too  late." 

On  conversing  with  a  man  in  middle  life, 
he  informed  me  that  his  father  was  a  devoted 
Christian,  that  he  was  faithfully  insti'ucted 
and  his  mind  was  early  impressed  with  the 
importance  of  rehgion.  In  his  youth,  there 
was  a  period  of  six  months  in  which  he  was 
in  distress,  day  and  night;  and  a  voice  within 
seemed  to  be  continually  saying,  "Forsake 
y«ur  sins  and  come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give 
you  peace."  "But,"  he  added,  "I  did  not 
wish  to  be  a  Christian  then ;  I  thought  it 
would  ruin  my  pleasures.  I  visited  a  part  of 
the  country  where  dancing  and  balls  were 
frequent ;  in  a  httle  time  my  serious  thoughts 
were  gone,  and  I  have  never  had  any  since." 
I  asked  if  he  did  not  fear  that  God  had  given 
him  up.  "Yes,"  said  he,  "I  am  afraid  he 
has.    I  go  to  church  and  read  the  Bible,  and 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  181 

try  to  feel,  but  I  cannot."  I  strove  to  arouse 
jbis  fears,  but  it  was  in  yain.  I  afterwards 
learned  that  lie  was  pursuing  his  worldly 
business  on  the  Sabbath. 

It  is  not  for  me  to  pronounce  that  God  had 
said  of  all  these  persons,  they  are  "  joined  to 
their  idols,  let  them  alone;"  "woe  to  them 
when  I  depart  from  them ;"  but  the  state  of 
all  such  is  unspeakably  alarming.  If  the  eye  . 
of  such  a  one  falls  upon  these  lines — ^if  you 
have  persisted  in  saying,  "  Go  thy  way  for 
this  time ;  let  me  alone,  that  I  may  have  the 
pleasures  of  this  life,"  and  have  quenched 
the  Spirit  by  resorting  to  amusements,  the 
novel,  the  baUroom,  or  the  theatre,  God  may 
have  given  you  what  you  desired ;  but  what 
have  you  now  of  all  these  pleasures?  Can 
you  look  back  upon  them  with  an  approving 
conscience?  Will  they  bring  you  consola- 
tion in  a  dying  hour?  Have  you  not  even 
now  in  your  own  soul,  if  you  would  make  the 
confession,  the  gnawings  of  the  worm  that 
never  dies,  the  burning  of  the  fire  that  is 
never  quenched?  If  the  Spirit  of  God  is  now 
striving  with  you,  it  is  the  most  momentous 
period  of  your  existence.     It  is  perhaps  the 


182  FIVE   YEARS 

turning-point  betTS'een  heaven  and  hell — the 
songs  of  angels,  or  the  wailings  of  the  finally 
lost.  Beware  of  stifling  the  Spirit.  Multi- 
tudes have  told  me  the  dreadful  tale,  "I  went 
to  scenes  of  amusement,  or  turned  to  the  ex- 
citing romance,  and  I  have  felt  no  anxiety 
since."  While  the  Spirit  strives  it  is  the 
seed-time  of  eternal  life,  the  embryo  of  a 
happy  immortahty.  Sit  not  do^n  to  count 
the  loss  of  sinful  pleasures ;  receive  the  Sav- 
iour into  your  heart,  and  you  wiU  have  pleas- 
ures lasting  as  eternity — pleasures  that  leave 
no  sting  behind — pleasures  that  will  sustain 
the  soul  when  on  your  dying  pillow,  when  the 
last  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  congregated 
world  stand  before  God. 

Many  facts  of  a  more  cheering  character 
might  be  given.    The  Eev.  N.  C— — ,  who  had 

a  pastoral  charge  in  M county,  said  to 

me,  "A  colporteur  had  left  a  copy  of  the 
Anxious  Inquii-er  in  the  house  of  a  wealthy 

man  in  M county.    After  some  time  he 

became  interested  for  his  salvation.  One  day 
while  there  on  a  visit  I  pointed  him  to  a  chap- 
ter in  this  book,  and  requested  him  to  read  it. 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  183 

He  read  it,  and  soon  found  peace.  Like  every 
real  Christian,  he  desired  the  salvation  of  his 
relations.  He  sent  the  book  to  his  brother,  a 
physician,  who,  together  with  a  sister,  were 
led  to  Christ  by  reading  it.  The  book  is  kept 
in  the  family  as  an  heir-loom."     On  another 

occasion  Eev.  Mr.  C said  he  was  sent 

for  to  go  some  distance  to  see  a  sick  woman. 
His  custom  was  always  to  carry  with  him  a 
few  select  books  to  give  or  loan.  He  gave 
her  a  copy  of  the  Anxious  Inquirer,  and  re- 
quested her  husband  to  read  it  to  her.  Both 
were  irrehgious;  but  by  God's  blessing  on 
reading  this  book,  both  were  led  to  the  Sav- 
iour. A  colporteur  sold  a  copy  of  the  same 
book  to  a  man  who  sent  it  to  an  absent  son. 
It  led  him  and  two  of  his  companions  to 
Christ.  A  colporteur  gave  a  copy  of  Baxter's 
Call  to  a  very  wicked  family,  who  never  went 
to  church.  Within  ten  months  he  found  the 
reading  of  it  had  been  blessed  to  three  of 
the  household.  A  tract  put  into  a  wag- 
oner's feed-trough  while  driving  his  team 
on  the  Sabbath,  was  the  means  of  stop- 
ping him  from  travelling  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  led  him   to  repentance.      He  became 


184  FIVE    YEARS 

eminent  for  his  piety  and  usefulness  in  the 
chiu'ch. 

A  missionary  who  preached  once  a  month 
in  a  wild  region,  ^nd  gave  part  of  his  time 
to  colporteur  work,  often  told  me  of  a  family 
that  lived  just  beside  his  httle  mountain 
church,  but  never  entered  it.  "WTien  he  be- 
gan the  colporteur  work  he  made  them  a 
visit.  The  man  told  him  he  did  not  wish 
him  to  say  any  thing  to  him  on  the  subject 
of  rehgion;  that  if  he  wanted  to  hear  him; 
he  could  go  to  the  church.  All  the  time  ho 
talked  and  prayed,  the  man  was  muttering, 
and  his  wife  increased  the  speed  of  her  wheel 
to  di'own  his  voice.  Finding  all  his  efforts  to 
get  their  attention  in  vain,  he  laid  down  a 
copy  of  Baxter's  Call  and  a  few  tracts,  and 
left  them.  On  his  return  to  fill  his  next  ap- 
pointment at  the  little  church,  to  his  surprise 
this  man  and  his  wife  were  in  the  chui'ch  near 
the  pulj)it.  During  service  they  were  deeply 
exercised.  At  the  close  he  spoke  to  them 
about  their  souls.  They  told  him  that  after 
he  left  their  house  they  began  to  think  about 
the  way  they  had  treated  him,  and  had  read 
his  little  -  books,  and  found  they  were  great 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  185 

sinners.  At  liis  next  communion  they  both 
joined  his  church,  and  they  were  among  the 
most  consistent  and  useful  of  its  members. 

One  morning  I  took  the  stage  to  go  to  the 
raih'oad,  some  sixteen  miles  distant.  There 
were  two  gentlemen  in  the  stage.  Both 
knew  me,  but  I  did  not  know  them.  One 
was  a  preacher,  with  whom  I  talked  all  the 
way  to  the  depot.  While  waiting  for  the  cars, 
the  other  passenger,  a  fine-looking  young 
man,  said,  "  I  can't  let  this  opportunity  pass 
without  making  myself  known  to  you.  Do 
you    remember   laying   your   hand   on   the 

shoulder  of  a  youth  in  the  town  of  B 

six  years  ago,  and  urging  him  to' seek  the  fa- 
vor of  God,  and  handing  him  a  Httle  book?" 
I  said  I  had  no  recollection  of  it,  as  I  was 
doing  something  of  that  sort  almost  every 
day.  "Well,"  said  he,  "that  talk  and  book 
were  the  means,  I  trust,  of  my  salvation.  I 
have  since  that  time  gone  through  college, 
and  hope  soon  to  preach  the  gospel."  He 
was  the  son  of  a  poor  widow.  He  is  now  an 
able  minister  of  the  Kew  Testament. 

One  day  while  on  a  journey,  I  came  to  a 
very  small  cabin  on  the  top  of  a  high  moun- 


186  FIVE    YEAKS 

tain.  A  poor  T^iclow  was  by  the  door  in  very 
homely  ai^parel.  I  asked  her  if  she  had  a 
Bible.  "Xo,"  said  she,  "but  I  have  a  part 
of  a  Testament,  and  a  number  of  httle  tracts." 
Seeing  a  number  of  clean  but  poorly  clad 
children,  I  began  to  ask  them  questions. 
The  answers  they  gave  would  have  done 
credit  to  most  of  our  Sunday-school  childi-en. 
I  asked  her  if  she  had  a  church  or  Sunday- 
school  near.  "  No ;  there  is  no  chui'ch  or 
Sunday-school  anywhere  in  reach.  My  chil- 
dren have  never  been  in  either,  and  I  have 
not  been  at  church  for  eight  years."  "Why," 
said  I,  "  madam,  how  have  you  got  your  chil- 
dren so  well  instructed?"  She  ran  into  her 
cabin  and  brought  her  whole  hbrary,  which 
consisted  of  a  part  of  a  Testament,  and  sev- 
eral Httle  books  and  tracts  sewed  together, 
which  I  learned  had  been  given  her  by  col- 
porteurs in  their  visits.  Said  she,  "I  read 
these  to  my  children  every  Sunday,  and  teach 
them  to  read  them,  till  they  know  all  that  is 
in  them."  I  added  to  her  supply  Httle  books 
tin  the  countenances  of  herself  and  her  chil- 
dren were  radiant  "vsith  joy,  and  I  felt  it  was 
truly  "  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  181 

A  few  miles  fiirtlier  on  I  stopped  at  another 
cabin.  The  woman  looked  at  me  a  moment. 
"  Oh,  I  know  jou.  Yon  are  the  man  that 
preached  and  gave  ns  tracts  at  the  church 
down  on  the  river.  I  trust  I  was  converted 
there.  Can't  you  give  me  some  tracts  to 
^ve  away?  I  am  living  now  among  very 
wicked  people."  I  gave  her  a  package,  and 
passed  on. 


CZi^IIZS  XIX 

Of  fL     .^  -  - 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  189 

many,  a  man  of  fine  education ;  but  lie  was 
connected  with  a  rebellion  against  the  goyern- 
mentj  and  had  to  flj  in  the  night,  and  made 
an  almost  miraculous  escape  in  disguise.  He 
was  an  infidel.  Mj  subject  was,  "the  worth 
of  the  soul;"  and  God  truly  gave  me  what  I 
said.      They  both   became   awakened;   and 

seven  years  after,  Mr.  H the  husband  of 

the  lady  joined  the  church,  and  is  now  an 
elder.  He  says  he  was  never  Tsdthout  con- 
viction fi'om  that  Sabbath  morning  till  he 
yielded  to  Christ. 

The  German,  Mr.  S ,  became  intensely 

exercised.  He  attencled  all  the  inquiry  meet- 
ings, and  often  called  on  the  pastor,  Mr. 
N .  His  agony  of  mind  bordered  on  de- 
spair. He  was  told  again  and  again  that 
whenever  he  could  give  up  all  for  Christ  he 
would  find  peace.     After  sj^ending  a  whole 

night  in  prayer,  he  came  to  Mr.  N in  the 

morning,  woke  him  out  of  sleep,  and  said, 

"  Mr.  N ,  I  have  nothing  on  earth  I  care 

for  but  this  box  of  rings  and  jewels,  which 
my  mother  and  sisters  took  from  theii'  ears 
and  fingers  the  night  I  fled  from  Germany ; 
these  I  have  held  as  sacred  mementos  of 


190  FIVE    YEARS 

tlieii*  love.     Take  tliem,  sell  tliem,  and  give 

to  the  poor."     Mr.  X said,  "Mr.  S , 

you  are  not  far  fi-om  tlie  kingdom  of  God; 
let  lis  pray."     In  a  few  moments  he  threw 

his  arms  around  Mr.  N 's  neck,  saying, 

"Oh,  I  have  found  Jesus."   Mr.  X handed 

Mm  back  the  box,  and  said,  "  Mr.  S ,  the 

Lord  does  not  need  the  jewels.  All  he  re- 
quired was,  that  feeling  of  heart  you  mani- 
fested in  giving  them  up."  This  man  is  now 
a  missionary  in  some  of  the  islands  of  the  sea. 
His  talents  are  all  consecrated  to  God. 

A  young  lady.  Miss  L ,  veiy  wealthy 

and  proud,  became  awaKened,  and  continued 
for  many  days  on  the  verge  of  despau\  She 
hardly  ate  or  slept.  She  even  became  des- 
perate :  said  God  was  not  as  good  as  his 
word;  that  she  was  willing  to  give  up  all  for 
Christ,  but  he  would  not  save  her.  We  talked 
and  prayed  with  her  several  times  each  day, 
but  all  in  vain.    At  last  I  said  to  her,  "  Miss 

L ,  you  say  you  are  willing  to  give  up 

aU  for  Christ?"  "Yes,"  said  she,  "even  Hfe 
itself."  "  TTeU,"  said  I,  "  in  the  name  of  my 
Master  I  ask  you,  out  of  your  large  wealth, 
to  give  me  a  donation  for  the  Tract  Society." 


IN   THE   ALLEGHANIES.  191 

Slie  replied  sternly,  "  I  am  not  going  to  buy 
my  salvation."  Said  I,  "  The  Lord  can  do 
Tvitliout  your  money ;  but  I  liaye  asked  tliis 
to  show  you  the  deceitfulness  of  your  own 
heart.  Tou  said  a  moment  ago  that  you 
would  give  even  life  itself.  Kow,"  said  I,  "  I 
shall  leave  you  to  reflect."  In  a  few  days  she 
sent  for  me  to  rejoice  with  her,  and  the  dona- 
tion was  heartily  made. 

I  then  labored  for  three  weeks  in  other 
chui'ches  in  the  city,  and  a  large  number 
professed  religion. 

Among  other  services,  I  was  a  week  with 

Eev.  Mr.  W ,  who  has  been  for   some 

years  president  of  one  of  our  auxihary  tract 
societies.  At  the  close  of  his  meeting  one 
day,  he  said  he  would  tell  them  what  one  tract 
had  done.  He  gave  the  tract,  "Have  you  the 
Wedding  Garment?"  to  a  young  lady,  with 
the  request  that  she  would  go  and  read  it 
over  three  times.  She  did  so,  and  the  next 
day  she  came  to  him  as  an  inquirer.  He 
then  gave  it  to  her  sister,  making  the  same 
request,  and  the  next  day  she  was  an  inquirer. 
He  then  gave  it  to  a  young  man,  and  he  has 
been  led  to  Christ  by  it.     "  And  here  before 


192  FIVE    YEARS 

you,"  said  he,  "  are  all  three  of  them  now 
rejoicing  in  hope." 

The  last  month  of  the  year  1850,  I  was  in- 
vited by  the  Eev.  ^h\  C to  visit  M 

county,  and  spend  a  week  "udth  him  at  each 
of  his  charges,  as  he  had  two.  The  distance 
was  ninety  miles ;  the  roads  almost  impass- 
able. I  shrunk  fi'om  the  journey;  but  a  voice 
seemed  to  say,  "Tou  must  go."  When  I 
reached  the  tovm  they  were  holding  a  tem- 
perance convention,  which  I  addressed  on 
two  occasions. 

On  Sunday  morning  I  spoke  first  on  the 
tract  cause,  and  raised  a  collection  of  $150. 
The  night  service  was  well  attended.  We 
continued  meeting  twice  each  day,  and  vis- 
ited families  and  distributed  books  and  tracts 
all  the  rest  of  the  time  till  Wednesday,  but 
with  no  very  marked  results. 

Notice  had  been  given  that  meetings  would 

begin  at  B ,  Mr.  C 's  other  charge, 

nine  miles  distant,  on  Thursday  morning  at 
eleven.  We  reached  there  at  the  hour,  and 
had  only  eleven  hearers.     At  the  close  of  tlie 

ser\dce  we  were  invited  to  a  Mr.  B 's  to 

dine.     He  was  a  backsHder,  rich  and  eccen- 


IN    THE    ALLEGHAXIES.  193 

trie.  We  had  determined  to  visit  families, 
talk,  praj,  and  circulate  tracts,  till  the  time 
for  the  night  service. 

TMien  we  came  to  Mr.  B 's,  the  old  man 

invited  us  into  the  parlor,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes one  of  his  daughters  came  in,  a  very 
beautiful  girl,  and  highly  educated.  After  a 
little  time  I  introduced  the  subject  of  religion 
to  her  kindly  and  poHtely.  She  gave  me  one 
of  the  most  scornful  looks  I  ever  got,  and  rose 
to  leave  me.  I  was  holding  in  my  hand  the 
tract  "Don't  he  Offended;''  and  just  as  she 
was  passing  me  I  presented  it  before  her.  I 
saw  the  father  was  offended  too.     Eev.  Mr. 

C and  I  both  felt  unhappy ;  but  in  a  few 

minutes  we  were  called  to  dinner,  and  Mr. 

C introduced  me  to  two  other  daughters, 

which  made  all  the  family. 

When  we  were  nearly  through  dinner,  the 
offended  one  came  to  the  table.  Her  eyes 
indicated  that  she  had  been  weeping,  but 
nothing  was  said.  After  dinner  we  went  to 
another  house,  and  met  a  young  lady  who 
was  teacher  in  the  female  academy  and  also 
in  a  dancing-school.  She  made  very  light  of 
rehgion,  and  said  she  preferred  the  ballroom 

Flv»  T.*ri.  13 


194  FIVE    YEARS 

to  tlie  churcli.  I  spoke  to  her  the  truth  very 
plainly,  and  gave  her  a  tract  on  dancing ; 
and  she  turned  away  offended,  and  said  she 
had  no  respect  for  such  Puritanical  religion. 
At  night  ^ye  had  a  tolerably  good  congi'ega- 
tion;  and  the  Lord  was  there  indeed.  Such 
was  the  state  of  things,  that  we  invited  all 
that  were  concerned  about  their  souls  to  re- 
main ;  and  to  our  utter  astonishment,  the 
two  offended  ones  were  among  them,  weeping 
bitterly.  The  exhibition  they  had  made  of 
their  ■s\ickedness  had  so  overwhelmed  them 
that  they  could  scarcely  wait  till  night  to 
confess  their  sins. 

The  next  morning  we  resumed  our  ^-isits. 

The  first  visit  was  to  Mr.  T 's,  an  elder  in 

the  church.  In  conversation  Tvdth  a  daugh- 
ter of  his  she  manifested  much  feeling.  I 
gave  a  tract  to  one  of  his  sons,  who,  after 
reading  it,  came  to  his  mother,  and  said, 
"  Oh,  mother,  if  I  was  to  die  as  I  am,  my 
soul  would  be  lost."  That  day  and  night  the 
congregation  was  large.  By  this  time  the 
pious  people  in  the  chiu'ch  had  awoke,  and 
all  were  at  work  with  books  and  tracts. 
Business  was  almost  suspended  in  the  vil- 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  195 

lage,  and  religion  was  the  only  tlieme.  Al- 
fmost  all  were  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion,  with 
the  exception  of  half  a  dozen  men,  who  threw 
every  obstacle  they  could  in  the  way.  One 
of  the  worst  of  them  went  away  to  get  out  of 
the  influence  of  the  meetings,  and  was  dead 
in  three  days.  Another  left  his  business  and 
went  to  the  country  to  avoid  the  presence  of 
God,  and  has  since  died  without  hope. 

The  interest  had  become  intense.  On  the 
way  home  fi'om  church  three  young  ladies  ob- 
tained hope  almost  simultaneously,  and  were 
all  embraced  in  each  other's  arms.  A  short 
time  after,  a  number  of  the  anxious  were  as-^ 

sembled  at  Mr.  T 's,  where  I  was  stopping. 

All  were  pleading  for  mercy,  but  soon  they 
began  to  sing  praises  to  God.  They  were 
heard  by  people  around,  and  in  a  short  time 
many  assembled.  The  new-born  souls  were 
rushing  into  the  arms  of  each  other,  and  of 
their  fathers  and  mothers,  and  thanking  them 
for  thek  prayers.  This  j  oy  was  no  doubt  much 
like  that  of  the  day  of  Pentecost.  One  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  professed  their  faith  in 
Christ,  and  were  soon  after  added  to  the 
churches ;  and  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to 


19G  FIVE    YEARS 

learn,  there  was  no  case  of  backsliding. 
Wliere  God  does  the  work,  the  work  is  well ' 
done ;  but  where  it  is  done  by  mere  human 
machinery,  the  results  are  very  unsatisfac- 
tory. The  town  was  revolutionized  by  this 
outj)ouring  of  the  Spirit.  The  ballroom  gave 
way  to  the  prayer-meeting,  and  the  drunk- 
ard's songs  to  those  of  Zion. 

I  gave  Baxter's  Call  to  a  youth  during  this 
meeting,  who  told  me,  eight  years  afterwards 
when  I  met  him  a  preacher,  that  that  book 
was  the  means  of  his  salvation,  and  had  it 
not  been  for  it,  he  never  should  have  entered 
the  ministry. 

At  another  meeting  some  months  after- 
wards in  C ,  there  was  a  powerful  work  of 

grace,  in  every  respect  like  those  to  which  I 
have  alluded.  One  old  man  professed  faith 
in  Christ,  who  was  the  third  imbehever  in 
the  family  who  had  been  led  to  Chi'ist  by  the 
same  copy  of  James'  Anxious  Inquii'er. 

I  visited  J.  C.  C ,  a  highly  distinguish- 
ed civihan  of  threescore  years  and  ten,  who 
had  filled  many  important  stations  in  life,  and 
who  now  felt  that  his  days  were  nearly  ended. 
He  took  me  bv  the  hand  very  Idndlv,  his 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIE8.  191 

countenance  expressive  of  deep  emotion,  and 
said,  "  I  am  an  inquirer  on  the  subject  of  re- 
ligion; /  have  attended  to  every  thing  hut  my 
soi'.U'  I  directed  him  very  briefly  to  the 
Saviour,  and  at  the  close  told  him  I  would 
send  him  a  httle  book  in  the  morning,  that 
would  direct  him  more  fully.  He  thanked 
me  kindly  for  the  interest  I  felt  in  him,  and 
urged  me  to  call  again.  The  next  morning  I 
sent  him  James'  Anxious  Inquirer. 

In  four  days  after  I  called  again.  His 
health  had  improved.  He  rose  to  his  feet, 
liis  countenance  bespoke  peace  within,  'and 
giving  me  a  cordial  shake  by  the  hand,  he 
said,  "  I  have  read  that  little  book  through 
twice;  the  great  question  is  answered.  I 
think  I  understand  what  is  meant  by  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ."  I  then  explained  to  him  as 
fully  as  I  could  the  natiu-e  of  the  neiv  hirth — 
the  evidences  by  which  we  might  decide  for 
ourselves  the  reality  of  the  change.  His  very 
appearance  was  entirely  changed — the  deep 
anxiety  that  sat  on  his  countenance  had 
passed  away,  and  happiness  was  expressed 
in  every  feature. 

In  a  few  days  he  was  able  to  walk,  and 


198  FIVE    YEAES 

called  to  see  me.  He  said  lie  had  read  the 
book  through  again;  that  it  "was  "a  great 
hook  ;  but  the  wiiter  had  omitted  one  impor- 
tant point — he  did  not  inform  the  reader  how 
long  the  work  of  sanctification  must  be  con- 
tinued after  a  man  was  justified;  that  justifi- 
cation was  an  act  instantaneous,  but  sanctifi- 
cation was  a  work."  I  replied,  "  Our  Saviour 
said  to  the  thief  on  the  cross,  '  This  day  thou 
shalt  be  with  me  in  paradise;'  here  sanctifi- 
cation was  completed  in  a  few  houi's."  "I 
thank  you,  sir,  that  is  enough:  here  is  a 
check  for  $30,  for  the  Tract  Society;  it  is 
doing  a  great  work." 

For  six  years  he  remained  steadfast  in  the 
great  doctrines  of  salvation  by  faith  in  Christ, 
and  in  a  blameless  Christian  life,  though  ever 
distrustful  of  himself.  Soon  after  his  death 
in  February,  1856,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven,  the  Kev.  Mr.  M justly  said  of  him, 

"Well-deserved  tributes  have  been  paid  by 
the  governor  of  the  commonwealth,  and  by 
the  legislature  and  other  public  bodies  to 
the  distinguished  pubhc  worth  and  private 
vu'tues  of  this  eminent  citizen.  His  views  of 
salvation  by  faith  in  the  crucified  Eedeemer 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  199 

were  clear  and  scriptural,  and  showed  that 
the  powers  of  a  yigorons  and  highly  cultivat- 
ed mind  had  been  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
all-important  subject.  He  often  expressed 
surprise  that  any  one  could  read  the  holy 
Scriptures  in  the  proper  spirit,  and  not  be 
convinced  of  the  reahty  of  religion,  the  divin- 
ity of  the  Saviour,  and  the  atoning  efficacy  of 
his  precious  blood.  His  faith  was  simple  and 
childlike.  No  dependence  whatever  was  plac- 
ed in  his  ovm.  merits  or  righteousness.  The 
atonement  of  the  Son  of  God  was  '  the  anchor 
of  his  soul,'  the  basis  of  his  hopes  of  heaven." 


200  FIVE    YEARS 


COXCLUSIOX. 

Most  of  tlie  facts  and  incidents  in  these 
sketches  were  committed  to  ^Titmg  about 
the  time  of  their  occurrence,  and  may  be 
relied  on  as  simple  verities.  Much  of  deep 
inherent  interest,  which  met  my  eye,  or  fell 
upon  my  ear,  might  have  been  added,  but 
for  its  inappropriateness  to  the  character  of 
this  work,  or  unduly  swelling  the  narrative. 

Those  enjoying  the  calm  refinements  of 
social  hfe  in  our  favored  cities  and  villages, 
who  have  never  entered  the  abodes  of  ig- 
norance and  poverty  in  the  moral  wastes  of 
the  land,  may  be  unwiOing  to  credit  even  the 
facts  related ;  but  in  a  matter  of  such  infinite 
importance  as  the  enlightenment  and  salva- 
tion of  perishing  souls,  could  the  real  facts 
have  been  consistently  withheld  ? 

In  the  providence  of  God  I  was  sent  out  as 
a  watchman,  not  upon  the  walls  of  Zion,  but 
outside  of  those  walls;  and  ought  I  to  conceal 
the  facts,  and  report,  "  All 's  well,"  when 
hundreds  of  thousands  are  djdng  in  sin  and 


IN    THE   ALLEGHANIES.  201 

ignorance  of  the  great  salvation?  Would 
not  such  unfaithfulness  be  criminal  in  the 
sight  of  God? 

And  when  the  Holj  Spirit  was  poured  out 
in  maryellous  effusions,  almost  as  in  the  day 
of  Pentecost,  should  not  the  facts  be  recorded 
to  the  praise  of  divine  gTace  in  Jesus  Christ  ? 

Eeared  as  I  was  from  infancy  under  reHg- 
ious  pri\aleges,  I  had  no  idea  that  any  part 
of  our  land  was  in  the  sad  moral  condition 
which  I  found  actually  to  exist;  or  that  the 
distribution  of  printed  truth  and  personal  la- 
bors "pubHcly  and  from  house  to  house,"  were 
ever  so  richly  blessed.  And  such  erroneous 
and  defective  impressions  as  to  the  wants  of 
our  fellow-men,  and  the  encom^agements  to 
labor  "for  their  good,  I  believe  are  very  prev- 
alent. 

I  remember  the  day  when  I  was  confident 
that  all  around  me  were  well  supphed  with 
the  Bible,  but  on  examination  I  found  eight 
famiHes,  and  among  them  my  next  door 
neighbor,  who  had  no  Bible;  and  a  pastor 
who  regarded  Bible  efforts  in  his  congrega- 
tion as  quite  unnecessary,  on  investigation 
received  from  family  after  family  the  report, 


202  FIYE    YEARS 

"  No  Bible,"  the  family  of  liis  own  sexton  be- 
ing among  the  number.  An  excellent  young 
man,  now  a  missionary  in  a  distant  land,  on 
faithfully  exploring  a  wealthy  county,  stated 
what  he  had  seen  to  Mr.  W ,  a  distinguish- 
ed Christian  citizen.  "  I  have  heard  of  you," 
said  the  gentleman.  "I  don't  beheve  the 
statements  you  are  making  about  the  moral 
destitutions  of  this  county.  I  have  made  up 
my  mind  to  go  with  you  and  see  for  myself." 
The  young  man  welcomed  his  company.  In 
the  first  dwelling  they  entered  the  family  had 

no  books,  not  even  a  Bible.    Said  Mr.  W , 

"  Give  them  $2  50  Avorth,  and  I  will  pay  for 
them."  In  the  next  they  entered,  and  in  the 
third,  they  found  equal  destitution ;   and  in 

each  case  Mr.  W said,  "  Give  them  $2  50 

worth,  and  I  will  foot  the  bill."     They  went 

further,  but  soon  Mr.  W said,  "My  young 

friend,  the  half  is  not  told ;  take  this  $20  and 
go  on  with  this  heaven-directed  work." 

As  to  the  rich  blessing  that  has  attended 
the  reading  of  books  and  tracts,  it  is  well  for 
those  reared  in  the  midst  of  church  privileges 
and  good  libraries  to  consider  how  different 
the  influence  of  a   good  book   may  be   on 


IN    THE    ALLEGHANIES.  203 

such  as  have  few  books,  or  none  at  all. 
Take,  if  you  please,  a  prosperous  family  in 
the  interior  of  the  country,  far  fi'om  any 
book-store,  who  may  have  an  old  family 
Bible,  a  few  school-books,  or  perhaps  some 
other  old  books  moral  and  rehgious.  A  col- 
porteur enters  mth  his  saddle-bags  of  beau- 
tiful books.  The  children  are  almost  frantic 
with  joy.  Each  member  of  the  family  gets  a 
book.  It  is  devoured  with  greediness — not 
by  a  gospel-hardened  sinner,  but  by  one  who 
has  few  or  no  gospel  privileges. 

Is  it  strange  that  such  a  one,  on  reading 
the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  the  Anxious  Inquirer, 
or  Come  to  Jesus,  is  immediately  awakened 
to  seek  for  pardon  and  salvation  ?  Is  it  not 
rather  more  strange,  that  every  one  who  at- 
tentively and  solemnly  reads  such  a  book  is 
not  led  to  Christ? 

And  when  we  come  down  to  those  who  are 
whoUy  destitute  of  books,  who  rarely  hear  a 
sermon,  and  yet  are  able  to  read,  the  effect  is 
often  stiU  more  powerful  for  good. 

Notwithstanding  aU  that  has  been  done, 
I  beheve  one  half  of  all  the  families  in  our 
land  now  belong  to  one  of  these  two  classes. 


204  FIVE    YEARS 

Hence  the  necessity  of  this  system  of  evan- 
gelization.  We  fear  the  time  is  far  distant 
when  our  country  will  be  so  well  supphed 
Avith  chui'ches  and  pastors  as  to  reach  the 
surging  masses  of  all  languages  that  are 
crowding  our  vast  territories,  seeking  homes 
for  themselves  and  families. 

Let  each  one  ask  himself,  in  \iew  of  the 
final  account  he  must  give  to  God,  "What 
can  I  do  for  these  perishing  thousands?" 
Here  a  way  is  pointed  out  by  which  every 
one  can  do  sometliing,  either  by  lahoring, 
inaying,  or  giving.  An  old  lady  unable  to 
move  about,  with  an  income  of  $600  per  an- 
num, gave  Sl50  each  year  as  the  salary  of  a 
colporteur,  and  she  had  a  few  other  ladies  to 
meet  her  once  each  week  to  pray  for  God's 
blessing  on  his  labors.  Few  men  in  latter 
days  have  done  as  much  good  as  this  colpor- 
teur, Mr.  C r.    She  thxis  labored  by  proxy. 

The  man  is  still  living  who  at  first  paid  SloO 
for  my  support,  and  was  thus  instrumental  in 
whatever  good  I  have  done.  Himdi'eds  would 
be  ready  to  go  and  work  in  this  department 
of  Christian  efi'ort  if  means  were  provided. 

This  system  of  labor  developes  the  dor- 


IX    THE    ALLEGHANIE3.  205 

mant  power  of  the  churcli.  Hundi-eds  whose 
influence  for  good  was  never  felt  outside  of 
theii'  own  family  circle,  have  become  success- 
ful laborers  in  this  heaven-bom  work.  Many 
of  them  are  now  able  ministers  of  the  Xew 
Testament,  vrho  would  have  remained  "  hew- 
ers of  wood  and  drawers  of  water"  had  it 
not  been  for  this  system  of  doing  good.  I 
call  to  mind  the  names  of  a  score  of  men  who 
have  been  brought  into  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry either  directly  or  indh-ectly  by  this  sys- 
tem of  colportage. 

Shall  a  work  of  so  much  power  for  good, 
and  so  much  needed,  be  unsu]3ported  ?  The 
price  of  one  ocean  steamer  would  support  it 
efficiently  over  the  whole  land  for  one  year. 

The  issuing  of  this  history  is  what  the 
•writer  never  intended  to  do,  or  allow  others 
to  do  while  he  Hved.  He  has  2:)repared  it,  if 
he  knows  his  own  heart,  purely  with  the  hope 
it  may  do  good.  He  trusts  it  may  suggest  to 
some  whose  supreme  desire  is  to  honor  Christ 
in  the  salvation  of  men,  a  way  by  which  they 
may  gain  the  blessing  of  those  who  "turn 
many  to  righteousness,"  and  who  shall  shine, 
above  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  '"'  as 


200  riVE    YEARS,    ETC. 

tlie  stars  for  ever  and  ever."  That  this  ma;y 
be  the  gracious  reward  of  him  who  "writes, 
and  of  all  who  read  this  book,  is  the  fervent 
prayer  of  the  pioneer  colpoeteur  in  the 
Alleghant  mountains. 

Note. — The  labors  of  this  single-hearted,  devoted,  and 
fearless  servant  of  Christ  were  at  first  secured  for  one  year 
to  explore  some  of  these  wild  mountain  gorges.  Having 
been  continued  five  years  as  above,  they  were  extended 
southward  in  the  Alleghany  range,  and  at  length  over 
the  whole  states  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  till  he 
had  had  the  cooperation  of  three  liundred  colporteurs, 
and  their  visits  had  reached  five  hundred  thousand  fami- 
lies, over  forty  thousand  of  whom  attended  no  place  of 
evangelical  worship.  Usually  they  read  the  Scriptures, 
conversed,  and  prayed  in  each  family;  and  they  gathered 
into  Sabbath-schools  seventy  thousand  children,  many  of 
whom  received  their  first  book  and  learned  their  first  lesson 
through  this  agency.  Such  wonderful  effusions  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  as  in  some  instances  above  recorded,  were  rare- 
ly witnessed,  but  these  continued  labors  were  evidently 
owned  in  the  conversion  of  multitudes  of  souls.  As  the 
writer  of  the  above  sketches,  now  a  commissioned  minister 
of  Christ,  has  well  said,  "It  must  have  been  the  work  of 
God,  who  causes  weak  things  to  confound  the  mighty.  It 
was  God  who  led  the  way,  and  raised  up  men  and  means, 
and  guided  his  servants,  and  blessed  them  with  his  pres- 
ence ;  and  to  him  be  all  the  glory." 

W.  A.  H.  Seo'y.  . 

New  York,  December,  1883. 


